Another Snag Hits Bass's Space Trip

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/14/2002 at 10:00 AM EDT

Again with the money troubles: Lance Bass's space voyage was placed in jeopardy yet again on Tuesday as his Hollywood dealmakers and Russian bureaucrats squabbled over payment for the 'N Sync singer's $20 million trip, reports the Associated Press. "We have a contract, but we don't have any money," Russian Aerospace Agency spokesman Konstantin Kreidenko told the news service. L.A. TV producer David Krieff, who is still gathering sponsors for a proposed series about Bass's trip, warbled to the AP: "In my mind it's a lot of talk and posturing. That is their style and I can appreciate it." Krieff also blamed the mountains of paperwork for which the Russians are famous. "This is 100 percent going forward," Krieff insisted, pointing a finger at another space agency spokesman, Sergei Gorbunov, as the chief vocal critic of Bass, 23, joining cosmonauts on an October mission. Speaking to the AP, Gorbunov termed such comments "foolish ... but should he fly for free? Perhaps (Krieff) thinks I am against the mission because I keep saying that he needs to pay."