A Russian rocket launched the world's third space tourist, U.S. millionaire scientist Gregory Olsen, and a U.S.-Russian crew on a journey to the international space station. Olsen, the 60-year-old founder of an infrared-camera maker based in Princeton, N.J., reportedly paid $20 million for a seat on the Expedition 12 flight.
According to the Associated Press, the Russian Federal Space Agency has turned to space tourism to generate money. Olsen is the third non-astronaut to visit the orbiting station. California businessman Dennis Tito paid about $20 million for a weeklong trip to the space station in 2001, and South African Mark Shuttleworth followed a year later.
Olsen preferres to be called "space flight participant:"
"'Tourism' implies that anyone can just write a check and go up there. That's not what happened," he told The Associated Press.
The U.S. should adopt Russia's approach and allow non-astronauts the opportunity to buy a seat on the space shuttle, if it ever flies again. Russia space tourism program raises money and exposes more people to space. Even at $20 million a ride, it increases the accessibility of space.
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