Space tourist search as singer quits
Print Edition
Russia’s space officials yesterday rushed to find a replacement for British singer Sarah Brightman, after she pulled out as the next space tourist four months ahead of her planned trip.
The singer, known for roles in West End musicals such as “Phantom of the Opera,” said on Wednesday she was suspending her plans to fly to the International Space Station for “family reasons,” reportedly her mother’s poor health.
Brightman, 54, has paid US$52 million to fly to the ISS, and hoped to become the first soprano to sing on board.
Speculation in Russia centered on whether she pulled out due to safety fears after an unmanned ISS supply ship lost contact with mission control after its launch last month and fell to Earth.
Brightman wanted to fly “on condition of complete safety — she didn’t want to risk a hair,” Igor Marinin, editor of Space News magazine, told RIA Novosti news agency.
ISS astronauts are spending an extra month aboard as Russia investigates the accident. The next launch has been delayed, though this was not expected to affect the September 1 flight.
Some reports also questioned whether Brightman had failed to raise funds.
“Several candidates are being looked at,” a space industry source told Interfax news agency.
It was unclear whether Japanese businessman Satoshi Takamatsu, who has been training with Brightman, could step in.
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