space tourism anyone?

Billionaire to make second trip into space
His $52m ride may be last chance as Russians intend to stop tourist flights to space station

Recession or no recession, billionaire Charles Simonyi could not pass up another shot at outer space - even if it meant shelling out US$35 million (S$52 million) for the privilege.
computer genius who helped build Microsoft, he will become the world's first two-time space tourist when he leaves Earth behind on Thursday. He will be accompanied by two professional astronauts - a Russian and an American - who will be going up for a six-month stint at the space station.

Mr Simonyi will return on April 7 in a Soyuz capsule. His own trip will last less than two weeks, and it will be his last.
Russian space officials have indicated that after this year, there will be no more seats available to tourists. That is because the space station crew is about to double in size to six - hopefully by the end of May - and professional fliers will fill all the slots.

Because the training for his first flight was so recent, he got the abridged version, three months at cosmonaut headquarters in Star City, Russia, versus six to eight months previously.

WOULD YOU SPEND THIS MUCH TO MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE?