Another space tourist to visit the ISS

United States entrepreneur Gregory Olsen will be the third tourist to visit the International Space Station.

According to the Interfax News Agency, a contract has been signed between Olsen and Russia's Roscosmos federal space agency. This has resulted in Olson being added to the crew of the ninth expedition to the ISS.

Olsen is a technology innovator based in New Jersey and is considered an expert on lasers and crystal growth. According to news reports he had been hoped to visit the ISS this past April but was rejected due to health concerns.

With those issues no longer relevant a spokesman for the Russian launch agency says that Olsen could fly to the orbiting station as early as October. This is when the next Soyuz mission is scheduled to bring supplies and a new crew to the orbiting outpost.

There have been two previous visitors to the ISS who have operated the ARISS ham radio station during their stay. American Dennis Tito, KG6FZX and South African Mark Shuttleworth. Both used Amateur Radio to share their space experience with school children world wide. In the case of
Shuttleworth is was using the special temporary South African ZSRSA call sign.

And as training in ham radio is a part of the space tourism program, there is every reason to hope that Olsen will obtain his license and do the same. We will let you know.

Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, Amateur Radio Newsline

Other recent stories..

Other News Stories

• Get our news headlines for your website - click here
• Submit your news story - click here