California businessman and for NASA engineer Dennis Tito, 60, has spent $20 million to support Russia's space program. Now he hopes it's payback time! In April, Tito wants to become the world's first space tourist by going on a mission to the International Space Station.

NASA, though, wants Tito to stay grounded. Last week the space agency barred him from training with Russian cosmonauts at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. NASA officials say Tito would interfere with ISS construction. They want Tito to wait until he is better trained, and legal safety issues surrounding sending a civilian into space are settled. The Russian Aviation and Space Agency insists that NASA can't stop Tito's trip on a Russian ship.

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March 30, 2001 World Report