Lance Bass, one-fifththe teen pop group *NSYNC, said he passed his first battery of tests in hiseffort to fly into space on a Russian spacecraft later this year.

Bass spoke with MTVMonday while in Manhattan for the premiere of "The Sweetest Thing".Bass said he is attempting to keep time free during the bands current tour sohe can participate in additional medical tests in the U.S. before heading backto Russia to see if he can qualify for a fall mission aboard a Russian Soyuzrocket.

"I'm stilltesting to see if I can make the mission," Bass told MTV, "andI have another week and a half of that ... If I pass these tests, then I'll goto Russia to pass the next six tests, which are a lot easier."

Lance Bass went to Russiain March to undergo a series of health tests. He is attempting to qualify for a seat on the Russian missionthat's set to launch on October 22 and return to earth on November 1.

The 22-year-old popsinger's trip to the Star City cosmonaut training center was paid for byRadioShack Corp., the Fort Worth, Tex.-based electronics retailer that lastyear filmed a television commercial aboard the international space station.

"You had adifferent doctor for every part of your body," Bass told MTV abouthis experience in Russia, "and to make sure it all works from your eyes,nose, ears, whatever, every internal organ so I know I'm very healthy. Theypassed me all from those tests so now I'm doing a set of tests here in America.Once I pass that, and I hope I do, then I'm off to Russia ... and hopefullyI'll be cleared by the Russians to ... live there for six months and train tobe a cosmonaut, which I'm very excited about."

Further examinationswould be required, as would approval from the Russian space agency.