|
 |
 advertisement
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Russia Says Soyuz Gift Shop Closed, Shuttleworth Won't Get Souvenir
By Eric Engleman
Associated Press
posted: 09:00 am ET
07 May 2002
|
STAR CITY, Russia (AP) -- South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth said Tuesday he won't be going home with the ultimate in souvenirs -- the Russian Soyuz capsule that brought him back to Earth -- but he does plan to buy the spacesuit he wore during his stint on the International Space Station. Shuttleworth and his two crew mates, Russian commander Yuri Gidzenko and Italian pilot Roberto Vittori, landed safely on the barren steppe of Kazakhstan on Sunday. Shuttleworth, a 28-year-old Internet magnate who paid an estimated $20 million dollars for his eight-day trip, was still glowing with enthusiasm when he spoke to reporters Tuesday at the cosmonaut training center at Star City, Russia. "Several times over, it was worth the investment," he said, adding that he hoped his flight would "inspire future generations to pursue science and mathematics." Shuttleworth said he expressed interest in buying the three-ton Soyuz capsule, which protected him during the fiery descent to Earth, but he wasn't able to reach agreement with the Russian space agency. He said he hoped to have a mock-up of the vehicle built, which he could take to South African schools to educate children. Sergei Gorbunov, a spokesman for the Russian space agency, said the Soyuz is considered "space technology," and the legal procedures for exporting it would be prohibitively long and difficult. But he did say Shuttleworth would likely be able to take his bulky spacesuit home "to hang in his closet."Shuttleworth said he conducted "a raft of experiments" in orbit. He said two sheep embryos and several mice embryos had survived the spaceflight and would now be thoroughly tested and examined by scientists. He had words of praise for his two crewmates and the staff of Russian mission control. Commander Gidzenko "did the work of three men" during the flight, acting quickly to solve all problems, Shuttleworth said. "It was good to have his experienced hands." The South African said he planned next to take a vacation with members of his family, who came to Russia and Kazakhstan to watch his liftoff and landing.
|
|
|
|
|
