Son of NASA astronaut happy to blast off with Russians
I don't know if you've ever flown Aeroflot, but I am told that on some of the flights you get benches rather than seats--which is why I am rather admiring of Richard Garriott's courage.
Garriott, a video game developer from Austin, Texas, is spending a reported $35 million to get shot up in a Soyuz, according to Reuters.
He says he isn't scared. That's despite the fact that a South Korean lady, who became a Soyuznik in April, complained that she thought she was going to die upon re-entry. Her no-doubt highly sober captain apparently re-entered the capsule into the Earth's atmosphere at a rather unfortunate angle.
Parts of the module became smithereens, and the crew seems to have experienced the space equivalent of the bends.
Garriott is the son of former NASA astronaut Owen Garriott. And the younger Garriott is about to enjoy 10 days in space before, hopefully, returning to Earth in a three-man re-entry vehicle.
The thing is, this vehicle might not get a wonderful Carfax rating.
Its last two landings have been less than optimal. Both times, explosive bolts, which are supposed to detonate before re-entry, failed to do so. Insain, rather than Usain Bolts, clearly.
Nonexploding bolts cause what are known as ballistic landings (the name does not appear to refer to the passengers' mood during one of these returns to Earth).
"I am convinced the probability of a ballistic landing in my case is significantly reduced," Garriott told Reuters. "But if it were to occur, I am physically and mentally well-prepared for it."
You might be wondering why Garriott is not using some family influence to take a ride on a NASA vehicle. Apparently, his poor eyesight prevents him from participating in the U.S. program.
Whereas the Russians, having sent a dog up in space, seem perfectly happy to send those with merely diminished vision and surplus cash.
Garriott will need all his visual powers on his trip. His job will be to photograph environmental movements. Let us hope that he doesn't suffer from any other untoward movements while he is floating in the firmament.
Perhaps, too, he will have time to photograph what is going on at the Russian/Georgian border.
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
Your article is very disrespectful.
Both Russian and US space programs have had their share of accidents and mismanagement (let's not get into details)
I think a person writing for a renown media such as CNET should refrain of using derogatory remarks like the one about russian sending a dog into space. Don't forget US sent a monkey during the Mercury program because they didn't know if astronauts could survive a gravitation-less environment for a few minutes.
BTW, I have no affiliation with Russia and have never flown Aeroflot but AA can't be that much worst. Specially on service and treatment received.....
May want to brush up on why animals were originally (and even today) launched into space, too.
This is shockingly offensive.
Do you have any idea how stupid and 1950's cold war hawkish this "article" sounds?
You should try to be a little less ethnocentric.
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I don't know if you've ever flown VALUJET, but I am told that on some of the flights you CRASH INTO SWAMPLAND AND DIE. Which is why I am rather admiring of Richard Garriott's courage.
Mr. Garriott, a video game developer from Austin, is USING SOME FAMILY INFLUENCE to get a shot up in a SHUTTLE.
He says he isn't scared. Even though AN AMERICAN lady, who became AN ASTRONAUT in JULY, complained that she thought HER SECRET LOVER WAS DATING AN AIR FORCE CAPTAIN as her no doubt highly DISTURBED ALTER-EGO SPRAYED PEPPER SPRAY at a rather unfortunate angle. Parts of HER DIAPER became smithereens and the POLICE INTERROGATORS seem to have experienced the equivalent of ROFL.
Mr. Garriott is the son of a NASA astronaut and he's about to enjoy 10 days in space before, hopefully, returning to earth in a SEVEN-man re-entry vehicle. The thing is, this vehicle might not get a wonderful CARFAX rating.
Its last two landings have been less than optimal. Both times, TECHNICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED THE LAUNCHES TO BE SCRUBBED. DESPITE THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED BY THE SPACE SHUTTLES, THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO LAND IF THEY DO NOT LAUNCH.
ZANY, rather than CHENEY, clearly.
Non-EXPANDING O-RINGS cause what are known as EXPLODING SPACE SHUTTLES (the name does not appear to refer to the passengers' mood during one of these returns to Earth).
"I am convinced the probability of a FIERY re-entry in my case is significantly INCREASED," Mr. Garriott told Reuters, "but if it were to occur I am physically and mentally well-prepared TO MEET MY MAKER."
You might be wondering why Mr. Garriott is not SPENDING AN ESTIMATED $35 MILLION to take a ride on a RUSSIAN vehicle. Apparently, he is too MENTALLY DISTURBED to be part of the RUSSIAN program. Whereas the AMERICANS, having sent a MONKEY up in space, seem perfectly happy to send those with merely diminished MENTAL STABILITY and surplus PHD'S.
Mr. Garriott will need all his visual powers on his trip. His job will be to photograph environmental movements. Let us hope that he doesn't suffer from any other BOWEL movements while he is floating in the firmament.
Perhaps, too, he will have time to photograph what is going on at the AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN border.
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All joking aside, I greatly respect both space programs. The Russians have more than proven their space-worthiness.
Thank you for your enormous efforts.
I do hope you're a self-employed physicist, as otherwise your employers might be wondering what you did all day.
Chris
- by aeroflot September 25, 2008 6:59 AM PDT
- The author of this article has no idea how solid the russian space program is. soyuz has never failed and space travel is a risky thing, but you have more to gain than lose. can the author put any photos showing benches on aeroflot? pls don't put such crappy articles................
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