Soyuz Back in Orbital Passenger Business with Virginia-based Space Adventures

Vienna, Virginia-based private spaceflight marketing firm Space Adventures announced Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the Russian space agency to offer three passenger seats to the International Space Station beginning in 2013. The trip aboard a Soyuz spacecraft is made available through Russia’s increase in production of spacecraft to a rate of five per year from four.

"We are extremely excited to announce this agreement and would like to thank our Russian partners in increasing Soyuz production and providing Space Adventures these well sought-after transportation services on the only commercially available manned spacecraft currently in operation," said Eric Anderson, chairman of Space Adventures, in a statement. Space Adventures has organized eight trips to the space station for space enthusiasts on Soyuz rockets, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, the Virginia General Assembly has gone into session and may consider new legislation to help fund the Virginia spaceport from commercial human spaceflights.