The world's first-ever space tourist, US millionaire Dennis Tito, spent his last day on the International Space Station (ISS) today preparing to return to Earth after his controversial 20-million-dollar adventure.
Tito, whose historic space trip sparked a row between NASA and the Russian space agency, is set to return to Earth at 6.41 a.m. Irish time tomorrow, eight days after achieving a lifetime's ambition of blasting into orbit.
The airlock between the International Space Station where Tito has been a guest since Monday and the supply vessel due to bring him back down to Earth will be closed at 12.12 a.m., with the undocking set for 3.19 a.m., according to Russian mission control.
The Soyuz TM-31 that is to bring Tito and his two Russian companions, commander Talgat Musabayev and engineer Yury Baturin, is scheduled to land in the desert of Kazakhstan, 90 kilometres (55 miles) northeast of the town of Arkalyk.
Four Russian planes, nine Mi-8 helicopters and around 300 space emergency staff will be on hand to ensure the space tourist and his companions have a safe touchdown.
On arrival the three cosmonauts will be taken to the Baikonur cosmodrome from which they blasted off on April 28.
NASA has repeatedly criticised Russia for selling Tito his 20-million-dollar ticket, arguing that he would not be able to handle an emergency in space.
But Tito himself told journalists by video link yesterday he believed the Russians had done the ISS a great service by helping "to publicise the station to the world."
The dispute between NASA and the Russian space agency would not "have any permanent effect. It will all turn out to be positive," he added.
American space officials are seeking compensation for the extra costs and stress incurred by the effort to guarantee the amateur astronaut's safety.However, the Russian side denies that any agreement was reached to reimburse NASA for expenses related to Tito's pioneering space adventure.
"We have received no official claim from NASA," Russian space agency spokesman Sergei Gorbunov said yesterday, adding that any damage to the ISS caused by Tito "should be discussed after the flight."
Tito dismissed suggestions by NASA chief Daniel Goldin that his presence on the ISS had hampered the work of its professional astronauts.
Speaking in a video link from the Russian sector of the ISS, 60-year-old Tito said he spent most of his time at least 100 metres away from the American sector, adding: "There is absolutely no way that my presence can interfere with their work."
The US businessman has portrayed himself as a typical tourist who kept out of the way of the two crews working aboard the ISS.
"I have spent a tremendous amount of time looking at the Earth through different windows, I have got a tremendous amount of photographs, I've accomplished all my objectives already," he said.
AFP