Russia to send its first space tourist in 2009

It seems like space tourism is getting closer and closer to reality. Few days back I wrote about Galactic Suite, the first hotel planned in space that is expected in 2012. After launching five tourists (four from the U.S. and one from South Africa) the Federal Space Agency is launching first Russian space tourist in 2009.
As revealed by Russia’s Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov, the person who is training to fly to International Space Station (ISS) as a tourist is a prominent Russian businessman-turned-politician.
The agency further plans to send cosmonauts to the moon by 2025 and then set up a manned outpost there in 2028-2032.
Image Credit
Source: Gadling
Tags: Anatoly Perminov, International Space Station, Russia, Space travel, Space tourist