Russian Game Show: Space Trip

1:57pm UK, Sunday December 01, 2002

Russian Television has come to the rescue of a disastrous year for the country's space program with the ultimate game show prize: a return ticket into space.

Shuttle: ticket to space

Thousands of applicants are already vying for one of 20 places on the game show, and their chance to be the third tourist to take a trip to space.

Since internet tycoon Mark Shuttleworth became the second tourist to venture beyond the earth's atmosphere for a rumoured £15m, the Russian space program has fallen into disarray.

Booster-rocket

The attempt by N'Sync boyband member Lance Bass to be the third space tourist was called off after his backers failed to come up with the money.

After Bass was left waiting on the ground, the problems facing the Soviet space program continued.

A Soviet-era launch pad collapsed in Khazastan, and a booster-rocket failure put the world's biggest private communications satellite into the wrong orbit.

"The space industry was the most successful and secretive undertaking of modern times," a Spokesman for the Russian space program said.

Space program

"But now it has found itself on the edge of disaster.

"Without a commercial program it won't survive."

State controlled Channel One has come to the rescue of the space programwith the revolutionary prize.

The reality television genre was successfully tested when millions tuned in to watch a raunchy-Russian version of Big Brother.

Strong audience

It is hoped the show will not only provide a ratings boost for the producers, but also revive the fortunes of the flagging Russian space programme.

A 200 million-strong audience is expected for the game show.

The eventual winner could blast off as early as next August.