First female space tourist looks forward to adventure

First female space tourist looks forward to adventure

MOSCOW - Anousheh Ansari, the 39-year-old Iran-born US entrepreneur is all set to be the first female tourist to visit the International Space Station in a Russian capsule next month. Ansari has shelled out the $20 million asking price and has got herself a ticket on a journey she describes as a "dream."

"I had to pinch myself to make sure that I'm not dreaming, and it's really happening," Ansari said Wednesday at a news conference at Star City in Russia. "Ever since I was a child I always used to gaze up at the stars and wonder what's out there in the universe, and wonder if there are others like me pondering the same question, somewhere else out there."

Ansari, who is a co-founder of Prodea Systems Inc as well as its chairwoman, will begin her 10-day dream journey either on September 14 or 18. She will be accompanied on the journey by Spanish-born U.S. astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin. The two-man crew will change on the return journey, as she will then be accompanied by the current two inhabitants of the ISS.

Ansari said the most exciting moment of her travel would be when she saw the Earth "as a blue, glowing globe against the dark background of the cosmos. I hope this flight brings me one step closer and helps me realize what's out there." Earlier space tourists include Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Greg Olsen.

Ansari said that she felt close to Iran as well. "I have a lot of roots in Iran and feel very close to the Iranian people and the culture of the country," she said. "By wearing the two patches, I can demonstrate that both of the countries had something to do with making me the person I am today." Her husband Hamid Ansari said his wife's adventure was both exciting as well as nerve-wracking.

"She always knew it was her destiny to go up there," he said. "She didn't know when. But she was determined to get there. This isn't a joy ride for her. She wants to make this feasible for the public. It's more than a 10-day trip. It's a lifetime commitment."