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N'Sync Star Looking to Catch Ride Into Space This Fall

Aired May 31, 2002 - 13:20   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: An N'Sync star is looking to catch a ride into space this fall aboard a Russian rocket. Pop singer Lance bass says he's passed a medical exam, and is now in the middle of negotiations. He spoke today from Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE BASS, N'SYNC: I've learned so much in the last three weeks here in Russia, things that I never knew existed, you know, the difference between cosmonauts and astronauts, you know, and NASA the Russian Space Agency, and it's just amazing and how far they have gone and how advanced they are. I'm excited to bring that to television and to the public, you know, the way Russia works, the way America works, and how we're all united now and finally sharing space together, and that's, you know, a huge thing to show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: So, dude, Miles O'Brien down there at the Kennedy Space Center. You've always said space that tourism could be a good thing. It expands people's interest in the space program. You got to feel good about this.

O'BRIEN: No, no, no. I have no problem with Lance Bass going, because at the very least, it raises interest in space, which is something I care about. But listening to him, you can't help but wonder if Giri Gegarov (ph), the first man in space back in 1961, you've got to wonder if he's spinning in his grave a little bit over the prospect of Lance Bass going up there. He would be the youngest spacefarer ever should he have the opportunity to fly. And it's not a done deal yet.

You notice the Radioshack banners behind him. They are one of his sponsors. But we are talking about a $20 million ticket to ride. He doesn't quite have in the bank yet. They're still talking, trying to get a network deal, trying to get the sponsorships lined up.

And he has passed that three-week medical, that physical, which just, in and of itself, is an accomplishment. We don't want to sell him short on that. But he, of course, hopes to be third tourist in space. You remember a year ago April, Dennis Tito made some space history when he floated across the threshold of the International Space Station. He went over NASA misgivings. They were concerned about safety. But the Russians insisted that he have that opportunity, insisted because the price was right, and they needed the money to keep the Soyuz production line going.

Dennis Tito carved out a little bit of space history there as he did that, and then last month, Mark Shuttleworth become the second tourist to do the same having traveled to the International Space Station, also aboard Soyuz.

And in this case, NASA reacted much more favorably. As a matter of fact, Mark Shuttleworth is here in Florida, a guest of NASA, to view this shuttle launch which so far isn't happening because of bad weather. I said earlier that NASA was against Lance Bass going to space. I caught a little heat from people here at NASA. They're not against it. They're not thrilled about it either, because it is, after all, something they take very seriously, and certainly the white scarf core, the astronauts, are wondering where this is headed, if it's becoming a bit of a side show up there.

Let me give you brief -- do you have time for a brief weather update here, Carol.

LIN: I just want to make sure you're not getting wet out there. I can hear the rain.

O'BRIEN: I was going tell you that it's coming down harder as we speak. No shuttle launch today, that's for sure. Look at the launch bat 39-A. Space Shuttle Endeavour is out there, getting drenched as we speak. If you look, you can see there is a band. There's just gray clouds up there. This is the rotating surface structure there. In short spell, they will start closing it on the shuttle on the shuttle to protect it a little bit as this rain comes in. They've predicted heavy thunderstorms this evening, but the heavy rain has already come. It's already no-go for launch, and it will remain that way for the remainder of the day.

I want to show you another picture as well. We are going to shift to the famous vehicle assembly building, which, of course, was where the Saturn Five rockets was stacked up. Take a look at that shot. You can see that band right there of gray clouds. We're just getting band after band of these low gray clouds coming through here.

In about 40 minutes, mission managers will meet to decide whether to even try tomorrow. I would bet my mortgage that they will stand down for the weekend and make the next launch on Monday, Carol, so I get to home.

LIN: Oh, good. And I get to work for you tonight because you're stuck down there. So it kind of works out. That's a good news.

O'BRIEN: It's OK. Sort of. It's better than staying through the weekend.

LIN: Thanks, Miles, see you later. Stay dry.

O'BRIEN: All right.

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