NEW YORK - The next space
tourist bound for the International Space Station (ISS) is taking a breather from
spaceflight training as he prepares to ride a Russian rocket toward the
orbiting laboratory later this year.
American computer
game developer Richard Garriott, 46, has returned to the U.S. after an intense
six weeks of Russian classes and Soyuz spacecraft training for his planned
October flight to the ISS. The one-month rest comes between a series of trips
to Russia's cosmonaut training center in Star City, where he and backup Nik
Halik have been wading through the intricacies of Soyuz spaceflight.
"In the
Soyuz, all of the buttons and things are labeled in Russian, so you need to be
able to read and understand a few technical words," Garriott told SPACE.com Friday,
adding that he spent four hours each day learning the new language. "There's no
question that learning Russian is a little bit of a challenge."
Based in
Austin, Texas, Garriott is paying about $30 million to fly to the ISS with two
professional astronauts in October under an agreement between Russia's Federal
Space Agency and the Virginia-based tourism firm Space Adventures, which
brokered the flight. He plans to conduct Earth observations and protein crystal
growth experiments during his mission and launched an educational
contest for British students to devise their own tests that he could
perform.
In between
language lessons, Garriott and Halik spent four hours each day studying Soyuz spacecraft
training manuals and exploring Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
"One of the
things that I didn't know was there while we were kicking around was that they
have a wonderful planetarium," Garriott said, adding that he and Halik hope to
visit the planetarium during their next training session. "It's a surprisingly
open place."
The two entrepreneurs
were careful to keep out of restricted zones and adhere to training protocol.
Russian space officials recently replaced
South Korea's first astronaut choice, artificial intelligence expert Ko
San, for an April 8 launch due to regulation infractions. Ko's backup, female
mechanical engineer Yi So-yeon, will take his place during the upcoming
spaceflight.
Halik, 38,
is an Australian entrepreneur who is paying $3 million to serve
as Garriott's backup and experience genuine spaceflight training.
"Though Nik
and I had not really known each other before training together in Star City, it
turns out we've lived very parallel lives," said Garriott, adding that both he
and his backup have taken adventure trips to Antarctica, rode aboard
submersibles down to the wreck of the Titanic, experienced weightless on
aircraft and flown Russian MiG jets. "Because we have that same adventurous
spirit and similar background, training together has been actually really convenient
and also given us a well-rounded opportunity to share this experience together."
Garriott
developed the Ultima computer game series and co-founded the Origins Systems
computer game company as well as the North American branch of the online game developer
NCsoft. He hopes to spend his month off from training to catching up with
his work. But, Garriott added, he did happen to be in Russia training for
spaceflight in early February, when his most recent game "Tabula Rasa" hit
stores in Moscow in its Russian packaging.
"Getting a
chance to sit down with the players was actually great fun for me and hopefully
they enjoyed it as well," Garriott said.
Garriott
has expressed an interest in paying an extra $15 million to stage the first
spacewalk by a private spaceflyer, though whether the activity could come
together in time for his flight is up in the air. He has already been fitted
for his Russian Sokol spacesuit, the partial pressure garment that he will wear
during launch and landing, but not one worthy of a spacewalk.
"Of course
I would love to do it if it could be done," said Garriott, adding that he hopes
to put together some sort of simple, feasible science experiment in case it
opportunity arises.
Garriott
will be the sixth paying visitor to the ISS, but the first American
second-generation spaceflyer to reach orbit. His father, Owen Garriott, is a
retired NASA astronaut who flew aboard the U.S.
Skylab space station and shuttle Columbia, and will serve as chief
scientist for the coming spaceflight.
"One of the
more interesting aspects of working with my father on this flight is what an
appreciation it's given me for the challenges that my dad faced during his time
with NASA," the younger Garriott said. "The sense of urgency to get all your
ducks in a row and get things lined up appropriately has been high."
Richard Garriott is chronicling his spaceflight training and
mission at his personal Web site: www.richardinspace.com.
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