Space Adventures Announces the Next Private Citizen Astronaut

Commercial space flight will take another giant leap forward on Monday, March 29th with Space Adventures’ announcement of the next private citizen astronaut in New York City.

The private sector astronaut’s identity will be revealed at a press conference by Eric Anderson, President and CEO of Space Adventures, along with Norman Thagard, retired NASA astronaut.

Here’s what we can reveal; the next space tourist is an American entrepreneur, who holds a PhD in the sciences. He or she hopes to be able to conduct scientific research onboard the ISS and wants to inspire young people to study science and technology.

S/he is to begin cosmonaut training next month at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia (for approximately six months) and will go on a mission to the International Space Station on a Soyuz-TMA spacecraft launched from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

In addition to tourism, the mission will provide much-needed supplies to the International Space Station. The mission continues Space Adventures record of opening the space frontier to private citizens.

This Story Includes:

   Sound bites from:

The next private space explorer
Norman Thagard, retired NASA astronaut.
Eric Anderson, President & CEO, Space Adventures.

   B-Roll Footage includes:

The next private space explorer training for his or her Space Adventure

   How to Receive C-Band Feed:

Monday, March 29, 2004 15:00-15:15 EST
Monday, March 29, 2004 17:30-17:45 EST

Satellite Coordinates: Telstar 5C Transponder16

Coordinates for T5C-16 are: Orbital Position: 97 Degrees West Downlink Frequency:4020(H)

Hardcopy Contact: Mark Hirsch 866-227-4878, mhirsch@tvamediagroup.com

Editorial Contact: Stacey Tearne 202-232-6574, stearne@crosbyvolmer.com

Trouble During Feed: AMV Gateway at 732-969-3191

Space Adventures® Announces the World’s First Privately Funded Mission to the International Space Station

Commercial space flight will take a giant leap forward with the announcement by Space Adventures, Ltd., the leading space experiences company, that it plans to launch the world’s first privately funded mission to the International Space Station.

This mission continues Space Adventures record of opening the space frontier to more than career astronauts and cosmonauts. The company brokered the flights for the world’s first private explorers, American businessman Dennis Tito in 2001, and the first African in space, Mark Shuttleworth, in 2002. The mission marks the first time that a private company has acquired a Soyuz TMA spacecraft for a voyage to the International Space Station.

Space Adventures, along with their special guest speakers, will announce on June 18, 2003, this revolutionary space tourism program that will take two passengers to the International Space Station for an unforgettable 8-day visit.

This Story Includes:

  Sound bites from:

Dennis Tito, the first space tourist (2001)
Mark Shuttleworth, the second space tourist (2002)
Sergey Gorbunov, Press Secretary Russian Aviation and Space Agency (RASA)
Eric Anderson, President and CEO, Space Adventures, Ltd.

  B-Roll Footage includes:

The launch of the Soyuz spacecraft
The docking of the spacecraft to the International Space Station
The interior of the ISS
Private astronaut training

How to Receive C-Band Feed:

Wednesday June 18th, 17:00-17:15 EDT and 19:00-19:15 EDT

Satellite Coordinates:

Telstar 6C Transponder 3
C-Band Analog
Orbital Position: 93 Degrees West
Downlink Frequency: 3760 MHz (V)
Uplink Frequency: 5985 MHz (H)

Hardcopy Contact: Mark Hirsch 866-227-4878, mhirsch@tvamediagroup.com

Editorial Contact: Samantha Donaldson 202-333-8745, sdonaldson@crosbyvolmer.com

Trouble During Feed: 212-727-1234