NASA appears to be undergoing a flip-flop in position, a change of heart about public space flight.

Back in April, space agency chief, Daniel Goldin, was fuming and flat-out furious about millionaire Dennis Tito’s pay-per-view flight to the ISS. Today, NASA policymakers are touting a new space commerce strategy that embraces public "space travelers".

That document, still in draft form, is labeled: Enhanced Strategy for the Development of Space Commerce.

"There has long been a desire by members of the general public to become space travelers. To date, however, access to space by humans has generally been the sole province of astronauts and cosmonauts utilizing government developed and operated space transportation systems and orbital facilities," the NASA strategy proclaims.

The NASA space commerce strategy also rekindles a Spaceflight Participant Program. Doing so will allow "limited opportunities" for the general public to ride aboard the space shuttle and the ISS.

While welcome news, there’s still more NASA could be doing, said Eric Anderson, chief executive officer of Space Adventures Ltd. in Arlington, Virginia. His group is busy at work on mass transit ideas for public access to space.

"This is a good first step for NASA towards commercialization, yet we feel it should go further and open the space frontier to paying tourists," Anderson told SPACE.com.

Space Adventures is attached at the oxygen hose with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, RSC Energia, and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) to develop future private flights to the ISS.

Last month, Anderson announced creation of an Orbital Flight Pre-Qualification Program.

For a fee, the same Russian agencies that train cosmonauts will take on wanna-be space travelers that suit up to find out if they are suitable for orbital treks.

"This will help ensure that all future space tourists are adequately screened and prepared for a flight in space," said Pyotr Klimuk, Director of the GCTC.

There’s no guarantee of actual flight if you get a passing grade. However, by taking medical tests, having zero-gravity airplane trips, streaking to high-altitudes riding in supersonic jet fighters, diving into a neutral buoyancy tank, and partaking in Soyuz simulator training, individuals can find out if they are fit as a fiddle for that day when their countdown comes.

Meanwhile, Spacehab is moving forward on its Enterprise commercial space station habitat project.

Spacehab and Russia’s RSC Energia, who built the now deorbited Mir space station, have partnered to build Enterprise. The module can be attached to the Russian side of the ISS. Enterprise is to take the place of a Docking and Stowage Module previously planned as a Russian contribution to the ISS.

Spacehab thinks the multipurpose Enterprise measures up, in all types of ways. The module would be 9 feet (3 meters) in diameter and 27 feet (8 meters) long, yielding 1800 cubic feet (50 cubic meters) of pressurized volume. That internal volume can be turned into room for laboratory research services, utilities, stowage space - even transformed to become a home-away-from-home habitat for public visitors.

The Enterprise is scheduled for launch in early 2004.

Also on a private space trajectory is MirCorp. The Amsterdam-based group recently announced its intentions to fabricate and orbit the first commercial space station.

Working with Russian space builders, MirCorp President, Jeffrey Manber, said the "Mini Station 1" would not be permanently occupied. Rather, a three-person crew could live on the orbiting facility for up to 20 days. Commercial visitors to the free-floating outpost, replete with a large window, could include researchers, filmmakers, as well as Earth-gawking tourists, Manber said.

With a $100 million price tag, the Mini Station 1 could be up and running in 2004.

How soon will lines form of ticket-in-hand space travelers?

Second-guessing how and when a healthy public space travel business will emerge is just that - guesswork. There is no doubt, however, that adventure, travel and fun await those ready to shape up and ship out.