Space Tourist

* Dennis Tito may be the first to pay for his own trip, but he is by no means the first space tourist (“Millionaire ‘Space Tourist’ and Comrades Soar Into Orbit,� April 29). That honor belongs to Sen. John Glenn for his 1998 joy ride aboard Discovery.

RAHM TAMIR

Venice

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* Tito’s great leap to space doesn’t inspire others to dream, as his sons seem to think it does (April 28). My dream of space travel has been thoroughly grounded by the realization that a ticket price of $20 million makes it completely beyond my means.

GERI A. MELLGREN-KERWIN

Burbank

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* “Rides� by civilians who have no valid reason for trips in submarines, military aircraft, Navy ships and, especially, the Alpha space station should be prohibited. These are not Disneyland rides. Sooner or later, accidents will occur. Buying a trip to the space station is especially dangerous. For a millionaire to buy his way aboard Alpha is a disgusting, money-grabbing reflection on Russia.

ROBERT BUTLER

Buena Park

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* I find it hilariously ironic that the Russians are entrepreneurial and our space agency is a centrally controlled, state-run organization staffed by unimaginative NASA apparatchiks.

LELAND P. HAMMERSCHMITT

Ojai

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* The media are making a big story about that guy who paid $20 million to spend a few days in space, but who remembers that I’ve been up here for almost 30 years? Who asks whether I’m enjoying the trip, whether the view is great, or whether I’m suffering from space sickness? All the attention I get is a little squib on a back page of The Times saying NASA contacted me (April 30).

I’m the one who made contact, not NASA. And of course they don’t tell what I said. What I said was, “Turn on the retro-rockets. I want to come home. I’ve had enough! It’s dark and cold and lonely out here. Maybe that Mr. Tito would like to take my place.�

PIONEER 10

(via Marjorie Dye, Pasadena)