A former executive of a troubled Japanese internet start-up has been selected to become the nation’s first space tourist.

US millionaire scientist Gregory Olsen and a two-man Russian-American crew returned from the international space station to Earth early today in a lightning-swift, bone-jarring descent.

A Russian rocket roared into space today in a burst of flame, launching the world’s third space tourist, US millionaire scientist Gregory Olsen, and a US-Russian crew on a two-day trip to the international space station.

TOURISTS inspired by the Discovery space mission can take advantage of a new holiday offer - a trip around the Moon - for $100 million (€81m).

SpaceShipOne, the craft which promises to one day take Virgin Galactic tourists beyond the Earth’s atmosphere made a nail-biting ascent into space today.

IT USED to be that a trip to Africa or Antarctica qualified as an exotic tourist destination.

SPACE tourism could be the next giant leap for mankind under a plan unveiled yesterday by Virgin boss Richard Branson.

Space tourism could be the next giant leap for mankind under a plan unveiled today by Virgin boss Richard Branson.

Space tourism came a step closer today when a private commercial rocket flew into the near reaches of space for the first time.

Lottery players don’t want the moon and the stars – they just want the money, Florida officials decided as they rejected a proposal to offer spaceflight as a big prize.

South African Internet millionaire Mark Shuttleworth, the world’s second space tourist, landed safely in Kazakhstan early today - and said his space voyage was ‘‘the best thing I’ve ever done’’.

South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth has described himself as a geek who wants to upgrade the International Space Station.

Preparations are underway to send the world's second space tourist into orbit.

Russia’s top space official says his agency has wrapped up a deal with a South African Internet tycoon to fly to the International Space Station.

The capsule carrying the world's first paying space tourist has landed in the Kazak steppe.

Space tourist Dennis Tito is preparing for his return to the pull of gravity and the glare of celebrity.

The world’s first space tourist, California millionaire Dennis Tito, checked into the orbiting international space station yesterday and floated inside with a huge grin.

A Russian rocket, carrying the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, has lifted off flawlessly.

A Russian rocket lifted off today from the Baikonur cosmodrome carrying the first space tourist, Dennis Tito, and two cosmonauts to the International Space Station.

The fantasy of taking a holiday in outer space becomes a reality on Saturday when a US multi-millionaire blasts off to become the world’s first space tourist.

The space shuttle Endeavour thundered away from Cape Canaveral in Florida last night, carrying seven astronauts on a mission to install a massive billion-dollar robot arm on the international space station.

Russian officials are to allow a Californian millionaire to become the first tourist in space.

During 15 years in orbit, Russia’s Mir space station survived fires, collisions and equipment failure.

A US businessman who hopes to become the world's first space tourist has begun his final training in Russia.