Today in Moscow, ?N Sync member Lance Bass signed a contract with Rosaviakosmos, the Russian space agency to officially be a candidate to go up to the International Space Station in October.

The U.S. has expressed their concerns because it is required a person have at least 6 months of training behind them to go up into space, and Bass had a fast track 4 months.

Partners of Rosaviakosmos ordered checks into Bass? medical and educational background, as well as a check for fluency in Russian. The spokesman for Rosaviakosmos told the media that Basswill be properly trained in the last 3 months in Russian, as well as what buttons not to push.

?All he needs to know is how to put on his suit and what not to touch,? said Igor Marinin of specialist journal Novosti Kosmonavtiki. ?We could even train a monkey to do this — in less time than that.?

Bass is trying to be the third fare-paying tourist astronaut. U.S. millionaire Dennis Tito and South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth were the first 2, both paying a reported $20 million.

Russia has asked the U.S. to bend it?s 6 month rule to help the cash-strapped agency pay it?s bills.

More to follow in the coming weeks.






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