Space Adventures, through its long-standing partnership with Rosaviakosmos, has assisted private citizens in achieving their dreams of spaceflight by helping them secure seats aboard Soyuz taxi flights to the ISS. Dennis Tito (USA) became the first space tourist in April 2001. In April 2002, Mark Shuttleworth (South Africa) became the first South African in space.
(See the section on “Upcoming Missions” for a description about Space Adventures-1, the next opportunity to fly into space!)
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Dennis Tito: Space Adventures' first orbital spaceflight client and the world's first private space explorer launched to the ISS in April of 2001. American businessman Dennis Tito received comprehensive training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. His participation in Space Adventures' other programs, including zero gravity flights, centrifuge training and supersonic jet flights to the edge of space is what ultimately inspired him to take the final step. "When I reached 2.5 times the speed of sound and saw the curvature of the Earth below and the dark sky above, I knew I wanted to keep on going," said Tito after completing his flight in a MiG-25, the world's fastest operational combat aircraft.
When he left NASA as a young man to pursue a career in finance, Dennis Tito's dreams of flying in space and the reality of his life seemed to part ways. Then he discovered Space Adventures In April 2001, Dennis Tito became the first space tourist, spending more than a week watching the Earth pass below him while living aboard the International Space Station. Floating in zero gravity, listening to opera, Tito knew that his life's passion was fulfilled. After his flight Tito added, "Space Tourism is the best kept secret in the world", and "Space Adventures made my dream of spaceflight a reality. They can do the same for you."
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Mark Shuttleworth: The first African to fly in space. Shuttleworth and his two crewmates, Russian commander Yuri Gidzenko and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori spent 10 days in space. They took off on a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on April 25, 2002. Prior to his flight, Shuttleworth completed Space Adventures' Orbital Pre-Qualification Program and underwent almost eight months of training and medical exams, including a one-week orientation program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Zero gravity, centrifuge training and spacecraft communication, guidance and control system lessons of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and ISS were also required.
Not only did Mark Shuttleworth want to be the first citizen from his country to fly in space, but he wanted to dedicate his flight to inspiring science education in South Africa and conduct his own science experiments. Over his eight day spaceflight in April 2002, Shuttleworth reached out to South African youth to generate interesting math anc science. He returned from space a national hero. "Space Adventures has been invaluable in supporting me on this long journey towards the realization of my dreams of spaceflight. This flight is a personal challenge and adventure, and it's an opportunity to encourage students in South Africa to embrace mathematics, science and technology," said Shuttleworth.
Additional information on the results of Mark Shuttleworth's flight can be found on the website "First African in Space" here:
http://www.africaninspace.com/scientists/index.shtml
