Second-generation space travellers return to Earth

27 Oct 2008

1

Ever since Dennis Tito signed on to travel to outer space aboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TM-32 on 28 April 2001 at an estimated cost of $20 million, the term ''space tourist'' has entered the popular lexicon. With Tito being followed by several other well-heeled enthusiasts, space tourism doesn't make as much news as it did few years earlier.

However, the latest entrant to this exclusive club, game developer Richard Garriott, has a unique distinction -- he is the space-faring son of a space-faring father. Of course, the latter didn't spend money out of his own pocket for that privilege.

Garrett returned to Earth on Friday, 25 October, aboard Expedition 17, joined by Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko. The latter two were returning after spending six months on the International Space Station. He headed towards the space station on 12 October aboard the Russian Soyuz TMA-13, accompanied by astronaut Michael Fincke and cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov, returning safely 12 days later aboard Soyuz TMA-12.

With this trip, Garrett became the first American to follow his father into space. Richard's father, Owen Garriott, is a former NASA astronaut. He flew three times into space, during three missions in the 1970s and 1980s. The proud father was in Kazakhstan to welcome his son. One of his returning companions, Volkov, is the first cosmonaut to follow his father into space, too - his father, celebrated cosmonaut Alexander Volkov.

"What a great ride that was," the junior Garriott said, after emerging from the capsule. Later, in televised comments, Garriott added, "I'm looking forward to some fresh food and to calling my loved ones. I've got my father here, but I've got other family back home I want to get a hold of."

Business History Videos

History of hovercraft Part 3...

Today I shall talk a bit more about the military plans for ...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of hovercraft Part 2...

In this episode of our history of hovercraft, we shall exam...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Hovercraft Part 1...

If you’ve been a James Bond movie fan, you may recall seein...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Trams in India | ...

The video I am presenting to you is based on a script writt...

By Aniket Gupta | Presenter: Sheetal Gaikwad

view more