History's first paid space tourist got his trip to orbit in the "wrong way" and his Russian hosts may end up having to pay for it, the chief of the US space agency NASA said.
NASA administrator Daniel Goldin told a US House subcommittee on Wednesday that Dennis Tito, a California tycoon who ignored the objections of NASA and paid Russia US$20 million to fly him to the space station, has caused anxiety among space workers who oversee the mission's safety.
"The current situation has put an incredible stress on the men and women of NASA," Goldin told the committee. "Mr Tito does not realize the effort of thousands of people, US and Russia, who are working to protect his safety and the safety of everyone else."
NASA also objected to Russia selling tourist trips without the agreement of the other space station partners. An agreement was finally reached, but Goldin said on Wednesday it may be costly for the Russians.
Considering lost research time, extra safety measures and other expenses forced on NASA, a US congressman suggested the cost could be more than the US$20 million that Tito paid.
RSS