Officials: Russia To Resume Space Tourism In 2018

MANDATORY CREDIT: Rex Features. Editorial use onlySarah Brightman undergoes training at Star City Sarah Brightman prepares for space travel, Star City, Russia - Mar 2015 These images show Sarah Brightman in space t... MANDATORY CREDIT: Rex Features. Editorial use onlySarah Brightman undergoes training at Star City Sarah Brightman prepares for space travel, Star City, Russia - Mar 2015 These images show Sarah Brightman in space training at Star City just outside Moscow. The singer is to join a flight to the International Space Station. She is training for 16 hours a day in preparation for her trip in September with a Russian Soyuz space craft. (Rex Features via AP Images) MORE LESS
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MOSCOW (AP) — Russia officials say they will resume space tourism in 2018 after years of sending into space only professional cosmonauts and astronauts.

Russia had sent seven paying guests to the International Space Station since 2001 before curtailing the program in 2009. Sending a tourist has been all but impossible since 2011 when the United States shut down its Space Shuttle program and had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets in order to get into orbit.

Russia, however, has made an exception for British soprano Sarah Brightman who is due to blast off on Sept. 1.

RKK Energia, a state-controlled rocket manufacturer, said in a quarterly report released on Tuesday that it plans to make up for an expected drop in demand for manned flights by resuming space tourism in 2018.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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