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COLLEGE ENGLISH LISTENING AND SPEAKING COURSE 5 UNIT 1-9 UNIT 1 The Worlds First Space Tourist (A)????On May 6, 2001, Dennis Tito, a 61-year-old California millionaire and former NASA engineer, became the worlds first paying space tourist when the Russian space agency launched him and two Russian cosmonauts aboard a rocket for a journey to the International Space Station. ????Tito and the crew blasted off from the cosmodrome in Kazakstan on time. Tito appeared calm, wearing a space suit and a smile. The trip by the Russian crew was almost delayed due to concerns expressed by NASA that the space station would get too crowded while an American crew did some necessary computer repairs. Fortunately for Tito, NASA said Friday that it had struck a deal with the Russian Space Agency, allowing him to launch on time without interrupting the American crews work on the ailing International Space Station.????Tito paid the Russian space agency $20 million to fly in space, but Russias partners in the space station -- especially NASA -- objected, saying his lack of training would require additional safety measures. ????Tito has been training at the Star City, Russia space center, for a year, learning the details of a Soyuz spacecraft and practicing how to survive a landing in Siberia. Just days before the launch, he proclaimed that he was well prepared. He said, The training is what counts and Ive had a significant amount of training. And that, I think, coupled with my aerospace engineering background, puts me in a very strong position, as far as being able to function in space. ????Tito has no duties during the mission. He told reporters: Im not a fighter pilot, Im a businessman, and I want to be able to absorb as much of this experience and relate it to as many people as I can. He said he would take pictures and tell people about the experience upon his return. Tito says his launch aboard a Russian rocket and six-day stay on the International Space Station dem