Russia was
the first to go to space and now with the world trying to take tourists to
space Russia too is joining the bandwagon to add its bit to space tourism. In
2001 American Dennis Tito paid a reported $20 million to become the first space
tourist, this opportunity was provided by the Russians. In the mission to
launch a Soyuz TM-32 spacecraft, Tito spent eight days in orbit crew as crew
member. Later six more space tourists followed before the program was
cancelled.
Russian
space agency Roscosmos has approved the first private project aimed at ferrying
wealthy tourists to space. The license to develop reusable system for space
tourism flights has been granted to the Kosmokurs Company.
The
Russians have been leaders in developing space crafts and space shuttles. They
had developed space shuttles for orbital tourism before Branson.
The
suborbital launch vehicle and spacecraft is going to be designed to transport
tourists at an altitude of 200 kilometers above Earth.
The company
has planned the first 20 minute space trip for 2020 and the ticket price has
been set at $200,000-$250,000. The company plans to provide flights for groups
of six space tourists with an opportunity to spend 5-6 minutes in zero gravity.
The capsule will be steered by one pilot.
Space
tourism will give the opportunity to push reusable rocket technology. With
Virgin Galactic introducing its new suborbital model called SpaceShipTwo last
month which will carry six tourists to space and two pilots, the new model
replaces the previous that had crashed in October 2015 killing the pilot and
injuring the other. This flight at an altitude of 200 kilometers will cost
about $250,000.