"I think we also should attract investments in cosmonautics and not only foreign capital at that", he said. Commenting on the opinion of some leading Russian experts that American suborbital travel may rid Russia of profits from space tourism, Perminov said: "Much is mere advertising now. In real fact, not many are willing to fly not only because of money: the technicalities have not been ultimately resolved. It will take time", he said.
In the opinion of the head of Roskosmos, an expedition to the ISS is more complex and less dangerous than a suborbital voyage, though it costs much more.
Asked why Russia still cannot send a third space tourist to the ISS, Perminov noted: "American millionaire Gregory Olsen, Ph.D. (Physics), was going to do research in the ISS but, unfortunately, his health is not good enough", Perninov said.
The last claimant, Russian businessman Sergei Polonski, has completed the entire flight programme but has been dismissed at the final stage also for health reasons. "He was in Baikonur, witnessed the launch and envied Colonel Yuri Shargin of the Spare Troops, who took his place", Anatoli Perninov said.
