Prospective Space Tourist Fails Physical Exam

35-year-old Internet tycoon Daisuke Enomoto (affectionately known as “Dice-K”) has been found physically unfit for space travel by Russian doctors and will not be traveling into orbit next month. Enomoto (above, left) would have paid $20 million USD for a flight to the International Space Station. He has been training for the trip for several months. A self-confessed “cartoon geek,” Enomoto’s dream was to look down upon the planet dressed as one of his favorite cartoon characters, an ace pilot from an animated Japanese TV series.

Igor Panarin, spokesman for the space agency Roskosmos said “It is not ruled out that after additional measures are taken, he could fly in the future. But this will take time.” Anousheh Ansari, a U.S. sponsor of the $10 million X Prize for private spaceflight awarded in 2004 is the most likely candidate to take Enomoto’s place on the Soyuz flight.

The first space tourist was US millionaire Dennis Tito in 2001. He was followed  by South African Mark Shuttleworth in 2002 and US businessman Greg Olsen in 2005.

Via New Scientist

35-year-old Internet tycoon Daisuke Enomoto (affectionately known as “Dice-K”) has been found physically unfit for space travel by Russian doctors and will not be traveling into orbit next month. Enomoto (above, left) would have paid $20 million USD for a flight to the International Space Station. He has been training for the trip for several months. A self-confessed “cartoon geek,” Enomoto’s dream was to look down upon the planet dressed as one of his favorite cartoon characters, an ace pilot from an animated Japanese TV series.

Igor Panarin, spokesman for the space agency Roskosmos said “It is not ruled out that after additional measures are taken, he could fly in the future. But this will take time.” Anousheh Ansari, a U.S. sponsor of the $10 million X Prize for private spaceflight awarded in 2004 is the most likely candidate to take Enomoto’s place on the Soyuz flight.

The first space tourist was US millionaire Dennis Tito in 2001. He was followed  by South African Mark Shuttleworth in 2002 and US businessman Greg Olsen in 2005.

Via New Scientist