NSync star's space flight hits snag

NSync star Lance Bass's space voyage has hit a hitch over payment for the $20m (€20.26m) trip.

Russian officials say the deadline has passed and they are still owed money.

But an American TV producer involved in striking the deal says he's still confident the project will go ahead.

Russian Aerospace Agency spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko said: "We have a contract, but we don't have any money."

Bass hopes to be a member of the crew scheduled to travel on a Russian Soyuz rocket to the international space station in October.

But the deadline for the NSync singer to make a payment to secure his spot was Tuesday, according to a Russian space agency official.

David Krieff, a Los Angeles television producer who plans a series about the trip and is gathering sponsors, blamed the problems on paperwork snags and Russian bureaucrats.

"In my mind it's a lot of talk and posturing. That is their style and I can appreciate it. This is 100% going forward," he said.

Bass has been training at Russia's Star City cosmonaut centre outside Moscow since July. Cameras are recording his progress for the TV show.

Celebrity Mission: Lance Bass would include six one-hour episodes showing the singer training for the voyage and a two-hour special showing the launch and Bass in space.