Lucky and rich man Gregory
Olsen, who is of no relationship to our Erik Olsen (at least I think) is
the third non-astronaut to go into outer space. Though the media
likes to call him a space tourist, Olsen, a 60 year-old scientist with some pretty hefty degrees in physics and
materials science, prefers the term “space flight participant.” To Olsen, the word tourism implies anybody can
sign a check and zip out of here. No kidding. The millionaire took off with the Expedition 12 flight in Russia (a
ticket that cost him some $20 million dollars) in hopes to make space travel more routine. A very kind gesture, but
unless they make the cost comparable to a flight from JFK to LAX I’ll keep my bottom planted right here
on planet Earth watching re-runs of Star
Trek.