Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Tourist, Crew Dock at Space Station

Garriott will perform experiments, take photos from space

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2008 9:37 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – American space tourist Richard Garriott arrived safely at the International Space Station today for a 10-day visit, Space.com reports. “I can fly!” Garriott told Russia’s command center, where former NASA astronaut and dad Owen watched his son become the first second-generation space-traveler. Also aboard the Soyuz craft was a replacement crew for current station residents, who haven’t had any visitors since June.

Garriott will carry out experiments while in space, and plans to photograph some 500 locations around the globe. Two of three current crew members will soon return home as the new crew begins its six month mission; engineer Greg Chamitoff will remain aboard temporarily to help the newbies get settled. Other good news for the crew: the briefly dysfunctional station bathroom is now working.

In this picture provided by NASA, the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, carrying multimillionaire Richard Garriott, launches, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
In this picture provided by NASA, the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, carrying multimillionaire Richard Garriott, launches, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.   (AP Photo/NASA, Bill Ingalls)
US space tourist Richard Garriott crew member of the 18th mission to the International Space Station gestures prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket in Kazakhstan, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.
US space tourist Richard Garriott crew member of the 18th mission to the International Space Station gestures prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket in Kazakhstan, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
U.S. space tourist Richard Garriott, left, U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke, right, and Russian cosmonaut and commander of the mission Yury Lonchakov get ready to blast off Sunday.
U.S. space tourist Richard Garriott, left, U.S. astronaut Michael Fincke, right, and Russian cosmonaut and commander of the mission Yury Lonchakov get ready to blast off Sunday.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Sons of spacemen join forces in space
Reuters

What's next for the station
The Register

 
space tourism • space • International Space Station • Russian Space Agency

More Newser Stories

Space Station May Be Forced to Go Unmanned

Space Station Will Plunge Into Pacific After 2020

Russians Plan to Launch Space Hotel

A Day Late, Soyuz Lands in Kazakhstan

On the Horizon: Space Flights for $475
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne