Space tourist gets Russian OK

Dennis Tito, the 60-year-old US investment manager who paid approximately $20 million to the Russian space program for the right to participate in a space mission, has been given official Russian approval to participate after completing a initial training. Nasa officials, however, still oppose his involvement in the mission.

On April 28, he and two cosmonauts will begin the 10-day trip to the International Space Station. Russian officials say that ex-rocket designer Tito still has more training to complete and will be a working member of the crew. Nasa has resisted his involvement from the beginning.

For more information, read telegraph.co.uk, space.com and ap.yahoo.