Russians Ground Lance Bass's Plans

By Stephen M. Silverman

05/30/2002 at 11:00 AM EDT

On Wednesday morning it was reported that 'N Sync wannabe astronaut, Lance Bass, 23, was ready, willing and, most importantly, able to zoom into space on a Russian rocket, reported Reuters. But by Wednesday afternoon, reported the Associated Press, the Russians were saying nyet so fast. "The Russian Aerospace Agency has had no contacts whatsoever with Mr. Bass," agency spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko told the news service. "We have received no requests from either him or his representatives, not to speak about signing any contracts." Through David Krieff, a producer seeking financial backing for Bass's purported trip (which carries a $20 million fee), it was said that Bass recently underwent an unexplained surgical procedure to correct an unexplained heart irregularity but had been informally pronounced physically fit enough to make the journey. "He's in top physical condition, top mental condition," Krieff said from Los Angeles, according to Reuters. Krieff went on to say that next week Bass was due to commence a nearly six-month flight training program at the cosmonaut center in Russia's Star City. But according to Kreidenko: "Anyone has the right to undergo tests in the Institute of Biomedical Problems. But that doesn't mean that such person is considered to be a candidate for space flight." Furthermore, the clock is ticking on who will get to go, given the preparation time involved. The AP, saying that it appears no space tourist will join the trip, notes that Bass is scheduled to hold a press conference later this week to clarify his intentions.