Posted: Fri, Oct 5, 2001, 3:42 PM ET (1942 GMT)
A South African entrepreneur who was reportedly set to be the next commercial space tourist may be denied his flight on a Soyuz mission next year, according to reports. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported late Thursday that Rosaviakosmos had declined to extend a contract to Mark Shuttleworth after the South African made demands the Russian space agency considered unreasonable. According to the report, Shuttleworth had demanded a 14-day flight, rather than the usual 8- to 10-day taxi flight to the ISS, and also wanted a second flight at no charge should the Soyuz be unable to dock with ISS. Rosaviakosmos has started negotiations to send European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori to ISS instead on the taxi flight, scheduled for April 2002.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Aviation Now article