Newest Space Tourists Report for Duty

The two latest space tourists began training to accompany Russian cosmonauts on their mission to the International Space Station.

Richard Garriott of the United States and Australian Nik Halik reported to Star City and immediately began physical training and Russian lessons.

Garriott, son of U.S. astronaut Owen Garriott, made his fortune in the computer game industry and is on the crew list for a Soyuz launch in the fall. Halik will back him up in the event he can’t make the flight.

The ITAR-TASS news agency said the pair will get into the main stage of their training next week. They will learn about the Soyuz spacecraft, as well as how maneuver around in a weightless environment.

Learning Russian will be a daily requirement, ITAR-TASS said, just in case an emergency occurs in which only Russian communications are available.