Out of space for space travelers

Space travel lovers may have to look for another means of transport after 2009, due to a lack of room on Russia's service module at the International Station, the director of the Space Agency said.

Currently, the Space Station (ISS) has only Russian and American modules built, and every shift on the station usually has 3 people, who are citizens of these two countries. However, in 2009, when Japanese and European modules were incorporated into the ISS, the number of citizens of the Station would increase.

Director of Russian Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov.(Photo: Cbsnews.com)

"It will take into account international regulations that since 2009, the International Astronaut Group of the International Station will consist of 6 people, if the Japanese and European science modules are launched. In that case, it will not room for cosmic tourists, " said Anatoly Perminov, director of the Russian Federal Space Agency. "I am afraid that since 2009, the tourism industry as we see it today may be interrupted."

Perminov also said the need to fly out of space, even if the price has now changed, beyond the ability to provide accommodation of the Russian Space Agency."There are too many people who want to make such a trip that we cannot meet all , " he said.

American millionaire Dennis Tito first opened up for space travel on ISS in 2001, then South Africa's Mark Shuttleworth in 2002, Greg Olsen (American) in 2005 and Anousheh Ansari (Iranian American). in 2006.

Charles Simonyi (Hungarian-born American) became the fifth tourist in April this year, describing his $ 25 million flight as " excellent ".

T. An