Dotcom tycoon space bound

Shuttleworth sees space as a platform for inspiration, education and technology

MOSCOW, Russia -- A South African Internet tycoon is set to become the second paying tourist in space.

Russia's top space official says his agency is close to signing a deal with a South African Internet tycoon to fly to the International Space Station next year.

Mark Shuttleworth, 27, will fly to the station in a Russian Soyuz rocket next April, Russian Aerospace Agency director Yuri Koptev told Associated Press reporters.

The Russian agency head would not say how much Shuttleworth would pay, except that it was "no worse" than a deal signed with 60-year-old California tycoon Dennis Tito.

Tito, the first person to go to space as a tourist, reportedly paid Russia up to $20 million to tag along with two cosmonauts for an eight-day trip to space in May.

South Africa dream

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The dot.com millionaire and Cape Town native Shuttleworth started a business trading in Internet security technologies in his parents' garage and with no financing, and quickly shot to success.

Last year, his company was bought out by U.S. firm Verisign, bringing Shuttleworth an estimated $500 million.

In a statement released in South Africa, Shuttleworth said the flight would fulfill his longtime dream.

"I have always dreamed of space as a platform for inspiration, education and technology, and am working to realize that dream for South Africa," he said.

"I hope it will inspire many of my fellow Africans of all ages to believe in the power of their dreams."

Earlier this year, the South African went through a month of tests and training at the Star City cosmonaut training center outside Moscow.

No U.S. complaints

NASA says there should be guidelines for sending tourists into space

The trip to the space station by Tito, a former NASA engineer, angered the U.S. space agency.

They argued that his presence could endanger the crew and called for Tito's trip to be postponed until procedures could be set up to send amateur travelers into space.

But the cash-strapped Russians ignored the protests.

Since then, the two space agencies have been negotiating guidelines for future amateur visits to Alpha.

Koptev said on Wednesday NASA had not complained about the Shuttleworth deal.

"We have the understanding of our partners," he said. "We follow a certain established procedure. There is no rift."

NASA has been drawing up crew criteria to avoid a repeat of the very public debate around the Tito's space station visit.