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CNN Live Saturday

Space Tourism Becomes a Business Reality

Aired April 28, 2001 - 16:01   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: As Dennis Tito rockets into orbit, many others would like to be in his space shoes. Business experts say that space tourism could become a multi-billion-dollar industry, offering thrill rides of the future. CNN's Matthew Chance has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the footsteps of Dennis Tito, these tourists are visiting Russia's space agency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, this is the base module.

CHANCE: It could be the cosmonaut training center's next, paying guests.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this the launch position?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the launch position, yes.

CHANCE: They may be further objections from NASA, but Russian officials say there could be more flights to space for those willing to pay. $20 million, the current price for a seat to the stars.

I have been interested in space flight my entire life. And this is just fantastic, because seeing Star City, seeing Baikonur, places that, well, I thought I would never have the opportunity to do it.

CHANCE: It is possible for tourists in Russia to experience the extremes. For less than $13,000, you can fly a supersonic Russian fighter to the edge of space. Or for $5,000, this trip across aboard a cosmonaut training flight. Experience zero gravity as these massive aircraft make gut-wrenchingly steep descents to Earth.

ERIC ANDERSON, SPACE ADVENTURES, INC: We've done market studies that have shown there is a multi-billion-dollar potential for space tourism. And that's not just orbital flights, for which there is only one or two opportunities a year. That's a huge market for what we call sub-orbital flights, where you go up and you are up maybe an hour or so, and do zero g's, see the Earth from space and come back down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Close that hatch...

CHANCE: More than ever, there is a fascination with space tourism, but the prospect of eight months of intensive training in Russia and the astronomical price tag means despite Dennis Tito's giant leap, a new era of mass space travel is not with us yet.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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