Posted: Wed, Apr 4, 2001, 10:19 AM ET (1419 GMT)
A US-Russian working group was unable to reach an agreement last week regarding the flight late this month of California millionaire Dennis Tito. A group of NASA and Rosaviakosmos officials met in Moscow last week to discuss not just the Tito issue but general rules and regulations regarding the selection of crews for the International Space Station, particularly when those crews include "non-professionals" like Tito. However, SPACE.com reported that the working group was unable to settle any of those issues by the time the meetings ended March 30. A draft NASA proposal, leaked to Space News, would have required any non-professionals to pass a "Class 4 space physical" administered by NASA, a proposal opposed by Rosaviakosmos. Russian officials said they plan to go ahead with plans to include Tito on the crew of a Soyuz spacecraft scheduled for launch late this month, despite continued opposition by NASA and other ISS partners. Rosaviakosmos chief Yuri Koptev was scheduled to discuss the issue with NASA administrator Dan Goldin this week, but those meetings have apparently been delayed when Koptev came down with a fever, according to the SPACE.com report.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article