SPACE STATION VISIT A VERY COSTLY PROPOSITION

It looks as if California millionaire Dennis Tito will be the first tourist in space when he travels aboard a Soyuz spacecraft with a Russian crew to the International Space Station for a week's stay.

Tito, 60, the founder of an investment firm, paid the Russians $20 million for the privilege despite the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's prudent concerns about his safety and the safety of the crew because of his presence in the event of an emergency.

Even though Tito made the deal with the Russians without the prior consent of the other space station partners, the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Space Agency have all since given their OK.

Tito's journey is being called an exception, which means not everyone will be able to visit the space station. And if it takes $20 million to buy your way into space, NASA doesn't have to worry about too many other people wanting to tag along.