The death knell may havetolled for the Mir space station, but for Dennis Tito, the man intent onbecoming the world's first space tourist, it's music to his ears.

"I believe the chanceof me going to Mir is less than 1 percent," Tito said in an exclusiveinterview with SPACE.com, "but I think it is highly likely that Iwill end up flying to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 30."

Tito, an investment managerfrom Santa Monica, California, had hoped to make a trip to the aging Russianspacecraft early next year. The former NASA engineer had already paid part ofthe $20 million price tag for the trip -- including almost $1 million that wasearmarked for living and training in Russia's Star City.

However the trip appearedto be canceled Thursday when Rosaviakosmos, the Russian space agency, announcedthat after almost 15 years of operation the station would be dumped into thePacific Ocean on February 27, 2001.

Dennis Tito here training in the Russian 'Vomit Comet,' anIlyushin 76MDK airplane.

Speaking from his apartmentin Star City, an upbeat Tito said he was happy with the agency's decision.

"Today's decision ispositive for me because at least it clarifies the future," Tito said."I feel a lot more certain about my future than George Bush and Al Goredoes right about now. Prior to this decision I was closer to feeling like theydo. I'm pleased with the decision."

Tito, whose contract to flyto Mir is with both MirCorp and RKK Energia, the Russian company that operatesMir, said he believes he will be the third passenger on board a Russian Soyuzspacecraft being sent to the ISS on April 30. That launch, referred to as ataxi mission, will be done in order to "swap out" the Russianspacecraft moored at the outpost for use as escape vehicles.

NASA spokeswoman KirstenLarson refused to comment on Tito's alternate plan to rocket to the ISS butsaid the agency has not discussed such a proposal with the Russians.