This is what the company's CEO Eric Anderson says in a telephone press conference on Friday. He also reports that Charles Simoni's flight has been extended a day due to severe weather expected in the landing zone
While NASA and the Russian space agency warn that with the increase of the space station crew from three to six people, it will not be possible to find space for space tourists on the Soyuz flights, Eric Anderson, CEO of Space Adventures said at a press conference on Friday that the project will continue.
"Space Adventure looks forward to continuing to provide flight opportunities to the space station, even as logistical and crew needs evolve," Anderson said. "We plan to do this in two ways, first by funding private Soyuz missions, each of which will retain two seats for paying passengers. The program is moving forward quickly and we anticipate that the first launch will be able to take place in 2012. The second option is that we reserve the third place on Soyuz that will be available to us from time to time."
The third seat in the Soyuz is designed to allow for the expansion of the Hal station crew, but from time to time there will be an opportunity where the third seat will be empty," Anderson said. "It's hard to know exactly, but we believe that these will be available in the future."
Anderson said that Space Adventures has received new information about a vacant seat on the Soyuz TMA-16 flight scheduled for September 16, 2009. “We have learned from Roscosmos that the feedback will not be used to fly a cosmonaut from Kazakhstan and that they are considering another partner or another Russian cosmonaut. It is too early to confirm if such an opportunity does exist, but I am mentioning it" said Anderson.
When asked if the company would be ready at such short notice, his answer was vague but he mentioned Esther Dyson and Nick Hallick, who trained as back-up for flights as space tourists and could be used as possible candidates.
As for the first option - financing a Soyuz flight, Anderson believes that this will be possible because in the past the Russians managed to make more than two Soyuz flights a year to the space station. He also believes that a crew size of six people will not be constant and may change at least from time to time due to budget issues and how long each astronaut can stay on the station." said. "Therefore, there is a likelihood that opportunities will open up from time to time.
As for the increase in air fares, Anderson said: "The prices did go up and I believe that the trend will continue. There are inflationary factors that have increased the costs, so I believe that the increase will continue." However, he added that his company, like all companies in the world, were affected by the economic crisis, but the type of people who are interested in flying into space are people who think long term and those who had a long term interest in reaching space will not cause the economic crisis to change their minds. This is a process that takes a long time, and there is still a public interest. When the economic situation turns around, I'm sure we can see an increase in demand."
Anderson said that everyone at Space Adventure is excited about Charles Simoni who is currently on the International Space Station during his second flight, and that his stay was extended by a day due to severe weather in the landing area. "He was quite busy with mission activities, assisting the space station's professional staff members and volunteering to assist them in their duties," Anderson said. "At this point, we are proud that we provided six professionals to the station in seven flights, and also let the passengers fulfill their dream of flying in space. I'm proud of what Space Adventure is doing and our partners and I'm excited about the North in the future." Anderson concluded.
Source: Space Adventures press conference call, April 3, 2009
