Russian Opening Space Tourism Program With Soyuz In 2013

Starting 2013, the three space tourists per year will be able to book a seat in the Soyuz flight to the International Space Station (ISS), it is clear the company is headquartered in Virginia, United States, Space Adventures, said in a statement. The company has signed an agreement with Russian space agency and Energia, the state-owned company which designs Soyuz capsule, to offer commercial flights.
Since the year 2009 Russia closed the space tourism program, this program is now reopened. The last space tourist Canadians Guy Laliberte, billionaire founder of Cirque du Soleil, which returned to Earth in October 2009 after 11-day flight. Leaders Energia, Vitaly Lopota, said, “We are very pleased to continue the space tourism. ”
Flights will be scheduled in 2013 when Russia plans to increase production of its Soyuz capsule from four to five per year. The addition will increase the number of Soyuz flights to five per year.
The first space tourist, Denis Tito, had traveled to the ISS in 2001. Overall, the seven space travelers have been taking part in the mission. Laliberte did not reveal the cost of tickets, but its predecessor, American software pioneer Charles Simonyi, has paid U.S. $ 35 million for that journey. Since returning Laliberte, Russia has limited flight Soyuz spacecraft with three of his seat only to professionals.