MOSCOW, January 20 (Sputnik) – Popular British singer and UNESCO Artist for Peace Sarah Brightman spoke about her future 10-day journey to space later this year during a press conference at Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Moscow Region.
“I would like to say how proud, honored and excited I am to be part of the Russian space program, and to be a cosmonaut in training. Thank you for letting me to do this.” – Brightman said during a press conference on Monday. “There is nothing more beautiful than the launch, and there is nothing more beautiful than seeing cosmonauts in space”.
Earlier, it was reported that Brightman arrived at the Russian Cosmonauts Training Center in Star City to start her cosmonaut training.
Brightman, 54, will become the eighth space tourist to visit the International Space Station (ISS). The singer will make her trip to space accompanied by Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov and ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen.
According to the Guardian, Brightman paid $52 million for her ticket to space.
Brightman announced her plan to fly to space back in 2012. She has already passed a number of medical tests to confirm that she meets the basic physical requirements for space travel. Before her flight, scheduled on September 1, she will have to pass another medical test.
Japanese Satoshi Takamatsu will be Brightman’s backup, in case an unforeseen situation should happen and she will not be able to make the journey. Takamatsu could travel to the ISS himself in 2017-2018.
Since 2001, eight civilians have been in space. Brightman would become only the second female tourist to visit the ISS.
