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Space resort
Mir fantasy?
High roller
A reclusive American telecommunications tycoon is spending millions of dollars to renovate Mir, the closed Russian space station, into a commercial lab, advertising gimmick and out-ofthis- world vacation spot for his fellow millionaires.
The price to visit Mir? About $40 million or so to be the first space tourist, but a mere $25 million for those who follow.
Unlike other space-tourism schemes, which all went nowhere, usually cynical space experts say this one has a good chance of success. That's because it involves a destination that's already in orbit (Mir), proven rockets (the Russian Soyuz) and cash that is flowing to a money-starved Russian space program.
The cash, at least $21.2 million, is coming from Washington venture capitalist Walt Anderson, who...