May 14, 2015

Sarah Brightman’s refusal to go the International Space Station in September 2015 won’t affect the dates of the launch, – spokesman for space industry reported on May 13, 2015.

“That won’t affect Soyuz launch. It was planned for September 1 and it is still being planned for September 1”, – the spokesman stated.

In his turn GCTC head didn’t comment on Sarah Brightman’s refusal to take part in the flight. According to him GCTC hasn’t received official cancellation.

The spokesman reported earlier that due to Sarah’s refusal Soyuz TMA-18M planned to be launched on September 1, 2015, may fly to the ISS with 2 crew members onboard.  “Sarah Brightman’s seat onboard may be vacant since it is a very difficult task to find a person and prepare him or her for the flight in 3 months left for the flight. As a result there is a possibility of Soyuz launch with only two crew members onboard, – the spokesman said.

According to him Brightman’s back-up crew member Japanese entrepreneur Satoshi Takamatsu paid for the trainings only and it is uncertain whether he is going to pay for the flight itself.

The spokesman left open the possibility of one of new Russian cosmonauts going to the ISS instead Brightman. But anyway short-duration flight is hardly to be changed into half-a-year mission, – he noted.

Spokesman specified that Brightman’s decision to cancel the flight was caused by the fact that she couldn’t raise enough money through charity funds.

More from this category:
July 20, 2020

This Monday Soyuz-2.1 booster with Progress MS-15 was rolled out from the integration building and installed on the launchpad of Baikonur launchsite, – Roscosmos representative…

full story
July 31, 2019

The “Progress MS-12” cargo spaceship on July 31, 2019 at 18:29:17 (Moscow time) successfully docked to the “Pirs” module of the International Space Station. The…

full story
May 7, 2013

According to RIA-Novosti, light class booster “Angara” launch is planned for mid-2014, and by the end of the next year – the launch of its…

full story
June 6, 2014

According to official information Proton-M with Exprss-AM4R satellite crash was caused by the breakage of 3rd stage control thruster turbopump bearing, Interdepartmental Commission Head Alexander…

full story
April 14, 2015

On April 2 we performed zero-g flight for combined group of space and aviation fans giving them an astonishing opportunity to feel like real cosmonauts…

full story
February 3, 2014

Progress M-20M cargo vehicle will be undocked from the ISS on Monday evening and will perform 8 controlled days flight during which “the Curve” scientific…

full story
October 13, 2014

Roscosmos developed deep space and particularly Moon exploration program, – Roscosmos strategic planning office Director Yuri Makarov reported last Friday. “In terms of technologies we…

full story
September 13, 2019

On September 12, 2019, a traditional ceremony of raising the flags of the countries, participating in the launch of the “Soyuz MS-15” spacecraft to the…

full story