http://www.personalspaceflight.info/2007/01/24/mixed-messages-on-russian-space-tourism/ Space tourism, public space travel, and the beginnings of a new industry Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:29:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://www.personalspaceflight.info/2007/01/24/mixed-messages-on-russian-space-tourism/#comment-67459 Van Humphries Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:34:21 +0000 http://www.personalspaceflight.info/2007/01/24/mixed-messages-on-russian-space-tourism/#comment-67459 I experienced some cultural insight into this sentiment first-hand, while speaking with a former Russian citizen. The Russian space program has historically been a great source of pride and feelings of prestige and the fact that seats are being sold to "amateurs" is viewed by at least one Russian as an example of what a former superpower has been reduced to. I countered by stating that they are better capitalists in the space tourism arena than the Americans, but my point was lost . . . to some extent they are selling seats because they have to. I experienced some cultural insight into this sentiment first-hand, while speaking with a former Russian citizen. The Russian space program has historically been a great source of pride and feelings of prestige and the fact that seats are being sold to “amateurs” is viewed by at least one Russian as an example of what a former superpower has been reduced to. I countered by stating that they are better capitalists in the space tourism arena than the Americans, but my point was lost . . . to some extent they are selling seats because they have to.

]]>