Space Tourist Plan Irks Europe, Canada

European and Canadian space officials joined NASA in objecting to Russia’s plan to put a U.S. millionaire tourist aboard the international space station this month.

The Russians plan to launch California tycoon Dennis Tito and two cosmonauts aboard a Soyuz rocket April 28. The Soyuz will arrive at the space station two days later, and Tito will spend a week aboard.

NASA and the European, Canadian and Japanese space agencies want Tito to join another paying traveler, a French astronaut, on an October flight. That would give Tito time to train adequately, they say.