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Axiom again cancels return of manned mission due to weather

Capitalism in space: Because of continuing poor weather on Earth, SpaceX & Axiom once again canceled the planned return of manned mission yesterday.

At the moment there is no word on when SpaceX’s Endeavour capsule will undock and bring its passengers home. Since a NASA crew is preparing for launch on Saturday, April 23rd, we should expect that return to occur beforehand.

This article from Israel about the delay, which also focuses on the flight of Israeli businessman Eytan Stibbe, had this interesting tidbit:

Businessmen Stibbe, American Larry Connor of Ohio, and Canadian Mark Pathy have paid $55 million apiece for the rocket ride. The visitors’ tickets include access to all but the Russian portion of the space station. [emphasis mine]

When the Russians launched Dennis Tito and other tourists in 2000s, I am unsure if those tourists were allowed in the American portion of the station. My guess would be yes, but that would be a guess, and very easily wrong. During the two tourist flights to ISS in October and December it is also unclear if those passengers had access to the American half. Considering the competition for tourist flights that now exists, I would suspect no.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
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3 comments

  • GaryMike

    Interesting.

    An astronaut whose seat on a Soyuz was paid for has automatic access to the Russian ISS segments.

    Astronauts on Dragon need a passport and a border check?

    Much like sailors on navy ships just can’t at-will board the ships of other sovereign navies.

    I would imagine soliciting an invitation gets around all that stuff. Which Russian cosmonaut has not asked to visit a Dragon?

  • J Fincannon

    I could not find where Tito got to go into the US portion. The other tourists did.

  • J Fincannon: It is quite likely that Tito was banned from the American half, because at the time, under NASA administrator Dan Golden, NASA was opposed to such tourist flights. That policy soon changed.

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