Space Adventure Tourism

A private Virginia firm that already has sent three men to the international space station for 20 million dollars, announced it will offer an adventure of a lifetime. A mission to walk outside the space station for an extra 15 million dollars.

For most people, this is a trip of a lifetime and probably the ultimate vacation. However, you won't get there unless you have 35 million dollars to spend.

Eric Anderson, chief executive of Space Adventures, says the company is arranging for the first spacewalking tourist to go into orbit in about a year with the blessing of the Russian space agency. The trip would involve a launch in a Soyuz capsule, an eight-day stay aboard the international space station and a 90-minute spacewalk in a Russian spacesuit. An extra month would be added to the six-month cosmonaut training.

The plan still needs the approval of the other 15 partners in the international space station -- including NASA. But Anderson says Russian space officials are confident they can get the O-K.

NASA would not comment on the proposal.

So, would if you had the money, would you take a walk into space? Of course, there are risks involved and you may not return. But would it be worth the trip?

I asked several people if they would make this trip if funds were available. All of them said yes, one said no because it's against their religious belief.