Man Pays $20 Million to Go to Space

The site is Korolyov, Russia. It is here that the Russian space program has found a place to thrive again. The Russian Soyuz was launched Friday, September 30, 2005 and marked the renewed efforts of Russia to become a powerhouse in aeronautics. With all the excitement of the reemerging space program after the fall of the Mir Space Station four years ago, a wealthy tycoon has secured himself a spot on the Russian shuttle. Greg Olsen paid twenty million dollars to become a passenger on the space flight and accompany astronaut William McArthur and cosmonaut Valery Tokarev. Mr. Olsen is no stranger to science. He is a 60-year-old founder of an infrared-camera maker based in Princeton, N.J. and holds advanced degrees in both physics and materials science. People that know Olsen and also individuals that are associated with the Russian space program say that Olsen's place on the shuttle was not an act of "tourism," but due to the fact that Olsen is first and foremost a scientist. What do you think, is this "tourism" and is it simply an issue of the money that the Russian space program would receive? Also, think about if you had the opportunity to go somewhere in space. Where in space would you travel to? How much would you be willing to pay for such an opportunity? Will space travel be accessible to everyone in the future?