Cancelled: British singer Sarah Brightman to be Russia’s next space tourist

[Danderman]

None of this "I'll pay a fraction now, and then raise the rest from sponsors, or from commercials after the flight".

I wonder if they pay before going.  Just like on an airline.

The final transfer is made when the Soyuz engines fire.

[Space Pete]

I presume it is due to the signal going through satellites etc?

Correct - from all the audio control equipment on ISS, up to TDRSS, down to White Sands, then via cable to MCC-H.

[Star One]

Another twist...

Russia to Decide on Brightman Space Flight Next Year

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20121123/177689018.html

This is the only other English language report I can see on the matter.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11/23/roscosmos_debates_sarah_brightman_trip/

[Olaf]

On Wednesday Mrs. Brightman was in Hamburg. She said in an interview, that she will fly to the ISS. So it seems that all is on track for her flight 2015.

[Space Pete]

On Wednesday Mrs. Brightman was in Hamburg. She said in an interview, that she will fly to the ISS. So it seems that all is on track for her flight next year.

Interesting indeed....

[Space Pete]

The plot thickens!

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos and NASA may opt against sending music star Sarah Brightman to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, Russian agency’s head Vladimir Popovkin said on Saturday.

The British soprano was set to go on an eight-day trip to the station, but NASA and Roskosmos are considering extending the visiting flight to one month, in which case she would have to give up her seat to a professional spaceman, Popovkin said.

“If it’s a monthly shift, then it will be staff cosmonauts and astronauts who will be performing some short-term scientific research,” the official said.

Popovkin did not say when the decision will be made or whether Brightman’s flight could be rescheduled for a later date. Neither did he name Brightman’s potential replacement, saying only that the candidate will be fielded by the European Space Agency.

http://en.rian.ru/art_living/20130316/180055962/Sara-Brightmans-Space-Trip-Under-Question--Roscosmos.html

[A_M_Swallow]

http://en.rian.ru/art_living/20130316/180055962/Sara-Brightmans-Space-Trip-Under-Question--Roscosmos.html

Sounds like she will have to wait a few years and go to a Bigelow space station.  The reduced cost will permit her to take a technician to operate the camera and sound equipment.  She will have to train him to switch the air conditioning back on at the end of every song.

[Star One]

The plot thickens!

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos and NASA may opt against sending music star Sarah Brightman to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, Russian agency’s head Vladimir Popovkin said on Saturday.

The British soprano was set to go on an eight-day trip to the station, but NASA and Roskosmos are considering extending the visiting flight to one month, in which case she would have to give up her seat to a professional spaceman, Popovkin said.

“If it’s a monthly shift, then it will be staff cosmonauts and astronauts who will be performing some short-term scientific research,” the official said.

Popovkin did not say when the decision will be made or whether Brightman’s flight could be rescheduled for a later date. Neither did he name Brightman’s potential replacement, saying only that the candidate will be fielded by the European Space Agency.

http://en.rian.ru/art_living/20130316/180055962/Sara-Brightmans-Space-Trip-Under-Question--Roscosmos.html

Oddly it says in this report the seat will likely go to a Russian Cosmonaut instead?

The source further claimed it was likely on the mission earmarked for Brightman's flight in October 2015 all three seats would go to professional Russian cosmonauts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2294500/Russia-shelve-30m-publicity-stunt-send-opera-singer-Sarah-Brightman-orbit-new-schedule-unsuitable-space-tourists.html?ito=feeds-newsxml


 

[Space Pete]

Oddly it says in this report the seat will likely go to a Russian Cosmonaut instead?

Well, I just really hope it goes to ESA.

[Moe Grills]

  Bully for Ms. Brightman. 

She, a professional singer, can also be a professional
song writer. Many singers have crossover talent in song
writing.
How many professional songwriters have gone into space and
composed lyrics and music about their space-travel experience?

None, you say? True! Upto now.

Since the 1960's it has been the desire of many to see professional
journalists, novelists, painters, acrobats, poets, musicians, songwriters and singers go up into space and relate their experience in sublime language,
art, music and expression.
So far? One journalist (a disappointing one), one acrobat, and a pro painter
(Al Bean; astronaut/painter) have gone up.

I hope Sarah will be inspired to write a song about her experience that will
be visceral, sublime and inspirational.

[Danderman]

Let me try to explain this process one more time.

The first step is for Space Adventures and their customers to come to terms.

Then, SA comes to terms with RSC Energia. At that point, the deal becomes public information. Since Roskosmos has not yet been made part of the deal, they publicly state that there is no deal for the tourist to fly. That starts the negotiation.

IF the negotiation with Roskosmos is successful, the tourist flies. If not, they don't. We are in the "negotiation with Roskosmos" phase. During this phase, SA and RSC Energia are still supporting the potential space tourist, and there may be some training.

This is why you always hear conflicting stories about whether X space tourist is going to fly or not.

[MP99]

Apparently, Sarah Brightman will be on BBC's One Show this evening, and will be talking about this. (Programme is 25 mins in, but the segment is still coming later.)

cheers, Martin

[MP99]

Removed some "um" and "er":-

SB: I'm actually officially a cosmonaut in training now. Said by the Russion space federation.

Int: So you've embarked on a training programme - you've undergone a medical?

SB: I've gone through - it was tough, it was really... This has been going on for a few years now, and I started off with my medicals in Houston, and then I thought I wouldn't pass anything.

Int: What was the hardest thing that you did, what was the toughest?

SB: The psychological tests. And apparently everybody, everybody is scared of them.

What do they do to you?

I'll go to something really, really simple. Here's some stickies (or what do you call them here...

Int: post-its

SB: Post-its, and here are some paper clips. This is, I, I mean I won't go into the difficult, but the more simple. I want you to build a 2 metre tower out of these, and you can use both of these materials. And I looked at it, and it was funny actually because I remember thinking about Blue Peter when I looked at these things - keep calm. And you had to do it with a team. And, I've never built anything like that and we did manage to make the 2 metre twoer without any panic.

Int: And if you, if you go, it will be in 2014?

SB: 2015.

Int: 2015. Will you go alone, will you fly solo?

SB: No, you fly with 2 other cosmonauts. And you go out of Baikonaur. In Kazakhstan. On the soyuz rocket amazing, and it's amazing - a beautiful thing.

Int: And what's the mission, 'cos you're not behind the controls.

SB: Well, there will be tasks I have to do. I mean, it's about - I've gone through a fair amount of training up to now.

But, I'll have 6-8 months training in Star City in Russia, which I've been at quite a lot. And I will have missions to do when I'm up there. The more scientific ones have to be decided yet. Obviously I'm an artist and people who go up there do they what they're good at doing, scientists, medical...

Int: Are you going to (garbled).

It's funny because I get to talk to lot of cosmonauts & astrounauts and I was talking to a one of the astronauts in Vienna the other day, and I asked if it was possible and he said yes of course its possible as long as you don't mind your cheeks will be out to here 'cos of zero g. There he said there's about 2 second delay, so you can work that out. I'd love to sing with people on Earth if I could.

Int: You need to get into prime physical condition, don't you. (blah, arduous, tough, blah).

SB : yes and you have to be very calm and take under situations that are unusual and obviously other-worldly. But I do feel in a funny sort of way because of my - the life I've had, touring always in uncomfortable situations that I've kind of - when I've been through things I've - at start city I've sort of been trained in a way before.

Int: Well, a lot of your music has been kinda been shaped by your obsession with space really, and you've got this new album out which is kind of intwined (sic), isn't it.

SB: It was totally inspired by what all of this that I'm going through last few years. And it was a beautiful pallet to work with because if you think about space the universe it evokes all sort emotions in all of us, so I was able to paint all and do all sorts of beautiful...

(Goes to music video and no more about space.)

cheers, Martin

[Space Pete]

Thanks for that transcript.

Sounds like she really thinks she's going. I guess we'll see what Roscosmos decide to do - I'm very excited to hear their decision!

intwined (sic)

One of the many good reasons why I don't watch the One show and those airhead presenters.

[Space Pete]

Looks like a done deal now.


RIA Novosti: Russia Confirms Plans to Send Sarah Brightman to Space

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130506/180999937/Russia-Confirms-Plans-to-Send-Sarah-Brightman-to-Space.html

[Danderman]

The money quote:

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said on Monday it has reached an agreement with US-based Space Adventures Ltd. company to proceed with the plans to put British singer Sarah Brightman on a space flight to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2015.

[jded]

Well, so much for shooting the first music video in space 

[Moe Grills]

Well, so much for shooting the first music video in space 

Well? Then how about the first, and hopefully not last, music video
in space done of and by a PROFESSIONAL.   

[Lar]

Well, so much for shooting the first music video in space 

Well? Then how about the first, and hopefully not last, music video
in space done of and by a PROFESSIONAL.   

I beg your pardon! Cmdr. H is a professional...  Oh, you mean a MUSIC professional.

[veblen]

Well, so much for shooting the first music video in space 

Well? Then how about the first, and hopefully not last, music video
in space done of and by a PROFESSIONAL.   

I beg your pardon! Cmdr. H is a professional...  Oh, you mean a MUSIC professional.

Which MUSIC professional?