Olsen’s $20 million
spaceflight lifted off at 11:55 p.m. EDT (0355 Oct. 1 GMT) on Sept. 30
alongside ISS Expedition 12 commander Bill McArthur and flight engineer Valery Tokarev. He returned to Earth on Oct. 10 aboard the Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft with the ISS Expedition 11 crew commanded by Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, with NASA astronaut John Phillips serving as flight engineer.
Below is SPACE.com’s
archive of stories covering Olsen’s flight preparations. The stories are
presented in reverse chronological order with the most recent updates at the
top. This page was last updated on Oct. 17, 2005.
Back on Earth
After ISS Flight, U.S. Space Tourist Returns Home
NEW YORK – The world’s third fare-paying visitor to the International Space Station (ISS) is back home in the U.S. after a successful spaceflight that peaked with 10 days in orbit.
U.S. Millionaire Enjoyed Space Station Trip
STAR CITY, Russia (AP) – He left his camera behind and the accommodation was smaller than expected, but Gregory Olsen said Thursday his excursion was still worth every bit of the $20 million he reportedly paid – after all, it was in outer space.
Home Again: U.S. Space Tourist, Expedition 11 Crew Return to Earth
A U.S. scientist who paid $20 million to visit the International Space Station (ISS) is back on Earth, along with two astronauts, after their Soyuz spacecraft touched down safely on the steppes of Kazakhstan Monday.
 |
TUNE IN! Spaceflight participant Gregory Olsen will broadcast live from the International Space Station during several 12-minute sessions throughout his flight. Click on the link below to see replays of Olsen's broadcasts:
October 4
Replay coming soon.
October 6
Click to view.
October 7
Replay coming soon. |
|
Reaching Orbit
Expedition 11 Crew, U.S. Space Tourist Set to Leave ISS
MOSCOW (AP) – U.S. scientist Gregory Olsen and a two-man Russian-American crew made final preparations to leave the international space station Monday, ending a seven-day trip for the millionaire businessman as the third private citizen to visit the orbiting outpost.
Jet Lag Aside, U.S. Space Tourist Greg Olsen Feels Fine
Orbital jet lag aside, space seems to agree with U.S. space tourist Gregory Olsen, who ended his fourth day aboard the International Space Station (ISS) Thursday with a video broadcast to Earth.
Space Tourist Greg Olsen Makes First Solo ISS Broadcast
Despite a satellite communications glitch, U.S. scientist and entrepreneur Gregory Olsen spoke live from the International Space Station (ISS) briefly Tuesday in the first of three planned solo broadcasts during his orbital spaceflight.
New Crew, Space Tourist Settle into ISS
Two astronauts and U.S. space tourist Gregory Olsen are settling into life aboard the International Space Station (ISS) one day after arriving at the orbital laboratory.
Orbital Arrival: Third Space Tourist, Expedition 12 Crew Dock at ISS
A fresh astronaut crew and U.S. space tourist Gregory Olsen arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early Monday after their Russian Soyuz spacecraft docked flawlessly at the orbital laboratory.
Liftoff! Third Space Tourist, New Crew Launches Toward Space Station
A Russian rocket launched the world’s third space tourist and two astronauts into orbit Friday, beginning a two-day trip bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
Preparing for Flight
Third Space Tourist Eager for Launch
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) -- The U.S. scientist slated to become the third non-astronaut to visit the international space station said Friday he was nervous ahead of the launch and defended his joining the expedition as a necessary step in the evolution of space flight.
Space Station Astronauts Prepare for Crew Change
Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are spending their last weeks in orbit as they await the upcoming launch of their relief crew and one paying space tourist.
Engineers Mount ISS-Bound Soyuz Spacecraft Atop Rocket
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) – Engineers made final preparations Thursday for the weekend launch of a Soyuz spacecraft to the international space station, with a U.S. scientist who paid $20 million for the journey among those aboard.
Third
Space Tourist Sets Science Agenda for ISS Trip
Despite paying millions for a flight to the
International Space Station (ISS), the next tourist to the orbital platform
does not plan to spend all of his time at play.
Soyuz
Launch to ISS is No Risk, Third Space Tourist Says
STAR CITY, Russia
(AP) – U.S. scientist Greg Olsen, who will become the world's third paying
passenger to catch a ride to the International Space Station, said Tuesday he
hopes to do some research in optics and medicine while in orbit and has no
anxieties about his mission.
Third Space
Tourist Prepares for ISS Flight
The next paying customer bound for the
International Space Station (ISS) is in the final weeks of training for the orbital
trip, which is set to launch in just over one month’s time.
Japan
Embraces Space Tourism
Space Adventures of
Arlington, Virginia has sealed the deal on an exclusive marketing partnership
with the Tokyo-based travel agency, JTB Corporation.
Waiting in the
Wings: Expedition 12, Space Tourist Olsen Prepare
HOUSTON—As the crew
of NASA’s space shuttle Discovery celebrates their safe return to Earth, two
astronauts are gearing up for their own launch toward the International Space
Station (ISS).
Space Adventures Offers Up the Moon for Future Tourists
NEW YORK—The
company responsible for brokering the first two space tourist missions to the
International Space Station announced today plans for a mission that will send
space tourists to the far side of the moon at the cost of $100 million per person.
Greg Olsen Back on
Track to Be Third Space Tourist
It was announced Wednesday that
technology entrepreneur, Gregory Olsen, has been confirmed to the Soyuz TMA-7
crew, which is scheduled for an October 1 launch. Olsen would become the third space tourist to
go to the International Space Station (ISS) and the first since the Columbia
Space Shuttle tragedy.
A Ticket to Space
Russian Space
Agency Signs Tourist Deal
MOSCOW (AP) --
Russia's space agency has signed a contract with Gregory Olsen, a spokesman
said Wednesday, in a deal that would make the U.S. millionaire scientist only
the third tourist to visit the international space station.
Space
Tourist Hopeful Resumes Training for ISS Spaceflight
An American
entrepreneur with aspirations of reaching the International Space Station (ISS)
has once again begun training for a tourist trip to the orbital facility.
Official
Denies Space Tourist was Rejected by Russians
MOSCOW (AP) _ A
spokesman for the company arranging aspiring U.S. space tourist Gregory Olsen's
ride on a Russian spacecraft on Wednesday denied reports that the trip was off
because of Olsen's health problems.
Ticketed
Space Tourist Greg Olson Said Rejected by Russians
An American
researcher hoping to be the next paying visitor to the International Space
Station (ISS) won't be making his space tourist trip, Russian space officials
said Wednesday.
Space
Tourist Calls Russian Language His Greatest Challenge
STAR
CITY (AP) -- After two weeks of training to become the world's next space
tourist, Gregory Olsen isn't put off by the physical rigors or the scientific
instruction _ mastering the tongue-tangling sounds and complex grammar of
Russian is the tough task.
Scientist-CEO
to be Third Space Tourist
An American researcher
and entrepreneur is set to be the next paying visitor to the International
Space Station (ISS), where he hopes to conduct research as well as enjoy the
view.
Two Tourist
Seats for Space Station Jaunt Sold; Two More for Sale
Two American space
tourists are being trained in Russia for express lane rides up to the
International Space Station. A space tourism company has sold seats in Soyuz
spacecraft slated to fly in 2004 and 2005, and has also acquired from Russian
space officials two more slots for future paying passengers.
Tourist-Class
Soyuz Seats Open for International Space Station Trip
If you're looking for the ultimate in get-up-and go, take note:
Tourist-class seats will be available on a Soyuz spacecraft bound for the
International Space Station in 2005.
Exp. 12 | Exp. 11 | Mark Shuttleworth | Dennis Tito
