Posted: Wed, Aug 14, 2002, 2:20 PM ET (1820 GMT)
Russia has raised doubts that it will include pop star Lance Bass on the crew of a Soyuz taxi flight set for launch in October, even as those backing the effort claim payment for the flight has been sent to Russia. Russian officials said Tuesday that while a contract between the Russian space agency Rosaviakosmos and Bass has been signed, Rosaviakosmos has yet to receive any part of the reported $20 million fee for the flight. Those officials hinted that Bass could be removed from the crew if the money was not forthcoming in the near future. David Krieff, the producer who has been lining up sponsors for the flight, claimed that the contract paperwork — required to obtain the insurance necessary for the flight — was shipped by mistake to Ohio instead of Los Angeles. Krieff told MSNBC that he had wired a partial payment to Moscow even though the paperwork had not arrived, so that Bass could continue training for the flight. Several sponsors have been arranged to fund the flight, which will be turned into a television series and post-flight concert. Earlier in the week Krieff told SPACE.com that a formal announcement identifying the sponsors would be made next week.

Related Links:

•  AP article
•  MSNBC article
•  SPACE.com article