WASHINGTON Space flight often requires sacrifices. Would-be space tourist Lori Garver is willing to give up her gall bladder.
The former NASA associate administrator is preparing to have the troublesome vestigial organ removed on the advice of Russian medical examiners that found gallstones during a 14-day medical screening she underwent in late February. The screening was a mandatory test that is a non-negotiable part of her quest to become the third so-called space tourist to visit the international space station. If Garver can clinch a deal with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency and Rocket Space Corporation Energia, she would blast off as early as October as the third member of a Russian crew delivering a fresh Soyuz capsule to the international space station.
Although about 80 percent of people with gallstones will never experience symptoms, if left untreated the stone-like calcium and cholesterol deposits can cause severe abdominal pain and infection, according to an article on the Internet site WebMd.com.
But Garver, a vice president in charge of the space practice at the consulting firm DFI International here, said she is willing to undergo surgery and put up with other inconveniences if that is what it takes to land a trip into space.
Before Garver can begin training for the mission, she must undergo gall bladder surgery and address a couple other health issues Russian doctors found during two weeks of thorough poking and prodding. For example, Garver said her Russian doctors also want her to have a wisdom tooth removed that she said has never given her any trouble.
"But if they make me do it, I will do it," she said.
Her gall bladder and a wisdom tooth are not the only things Garver might have to give up to go to space. Some loss of privacy is also to be expected should she clinch a seat on an upcoming Soyuz flight. Garver recently got a glimpse of the type of interest her space adventure might generate.
Garver spent one day last week shadowed by an ABC News film crew working on a piece about the suburban moms space flight plans. Visiting her doctor, picking up her children, attending an aerobics class the camera crew was there. The network plans to air the story on an upcoming broadcast of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings.
Garver is one of at least two prospective candidates for the late October Soyuz mission. Lance Bass of the popular singing group *NSYNC flew to Moscow March 21 to begin his medical certification. RadioShack, the Ft. Worth, Tex.-based retailer, sponsored the two-and-a-half day trip. Like Garver, Bass is counting on corporate sponsorships to cover the cost of his space trip, currently pegged at roughly $20 million.
With Bass and Garver both vying for the same Soyuz seats, some potential sponsors might be forced to decide whether the 22-year-old pop star or the 40-year-old working mom presents the better marketing opportunity.
Garver said she needs to put down a cash deposit on her flight before she can begin training for the Soyuz flight. Assuming she secures the required financial commitment by the end of March, she would begin her six-month training regimen in May, she said.
Garver, who is married and has two sons age 7 and 10, said she has already given considerable thought to how she would juggle her professional and personal responsibilities with the demand of training for a space flight.
Although the first and last couple months of her training regimen would be spent apart from her family, she said she would plan to have her mother and sons stay with her over the summer.
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