sbp
08-07-2002, 02:42 PM
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/08/07/russia.bass.reut/index.html
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's space agency said Wednesday it might scrap plans for 'N Sync singer Lance Bass to join an October mission to the international space station because he had failed to meet a payment deadline.
"There are a number of deadlines for the installments to be paid, but the first part has already been delayed. Theoretically, we can already dissolve his contract," Rosaviakosmos spokesman Sergei Gorbunov said.
Bass, backed by a consortium of companies rounded up by a Hollywood producer, has signed a preliminary contract but has yet to secure a final deal guaranteeing a seat aboard the Soyuz craft. He is already training in Star City, just outside Moscow.
"If Star City, where he has also not paid a large part of his training fees, decides to cut short his training, this would be enough to take him off the flight," Gorbunov added.
If successful, the 23-year-old singer would be the third fare-paying tourist to blast into space aboard a Russian craft, following in the footsteps of U.S. millionaire Dennis Tito and South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.
Both were reported to have paid up to $20 million.
"His backers have sent us a letter asking us to set back the deadline to August 9," Gorbunov said. "If they do not pay up on the 9th, I don't know what will happen. Maybe we will follow their wishes again, and wait again. But we cannot wait forever."
Russia's decision to accept Bass as a candidate for the third seat on the Soyuz taxi alarmed U.S. officials, who have expressed worries that the pop star may be ill-prepared for the flight.
Rosaviakosmos has said it needs Bass's payment to help it foot bills and service its Soyuz space fleet.
If successful in his space bid, Bass would wrest the title of youngest person in space from Soviet cosmonaut German Titov, who blasted off in 1961 at age 25.
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Geez just when we thought we could rid of him for a while.
So this pophead is going to hold the record for being youngest person in space.
Don't say that Russia space agency is so hurt for money they are depending on this for money to maintain equipment. :2far:
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia's space agency said Wednesday it might scrap plans for 'N Sync singer Lance Bass to join an October mission to the international space station because he had failed to meet a payment deadline.
"There are a number of deadlines for the installments to be paid, but the first part has already been delayed. Theoretically, we can already dissolve his contract," Rosaviakosmos spokesman Sergei Gorbunov said.
Bass, backed by a consortium of companies rounded up by a Hollywood producer, has signed a preliminary contract but has yet to secure a final deal guaranteeing a seat aboard the Soyuz craft. He is already training in Star City, just outside Moscow.
"If Star City, where he has also not paid a large part of his training fees, decides to cut short his training, this would be enough to take him off the flight," Gorbunov added.
If successful, the 23-year-old singer would be the third fare-paying tourist to blast into space aboard a Russian craft, following in the footsteps of U.S. millionaire Dennis Tito and South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.
Both were reported to have paid up to $20 million.
"His backers have sent us a letter asking us to set back the deadline to August 9," Gorbunov said. "If they do not pay up on the 9th, I don't know what will happen. Maybe we will follow their wishes again, and wait again. But we cannot wait forever."
Russia's decision to accept Bass as a candidate for the third seat on the Soyuz taxi alarmed U.S. officials, who have expressed worries that the pop star may be ill-prepared for the flight.
Rosaviakosmos has said it needs Bass's payment to help it foot bills and service its Soyuz space fleet.
If successful in his space bid, Bass would wrest the title of youngest person in space from Soviet cosmonaut German Titov, who blasted off in 1961 at age 25.
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Geez just when we thought we could rid of him for a while.
So this pophead is going to hold the record for being youngest person in space.
Don't say that Russia space agency is so hurt for money they are depending on this for money to maintain equipment. :2far: