[Satellite TODAY 01-13-11] Space Adventures, a commercial manned space travel company, finalized an agreement with the Russian Federal Space Agency and Rocket Space Corp. Energia (RSC Energia) to sell three seats on a Soyuz spacecraft travelling to the International Space Station (ISS), Space Adventures announced Jan. 12.
     Beginning in 2013, Space Adventures will offer three short-duration flights — about 10 days — and will contribute to the increase of launch capacity to the ISS from four to five spacecraft per year. Russian space agency officials said the addition of a fifth Soyuz spacecraft to its current manifest would add flexibility and redundancy to its ISS transportation capabilities. 
     “We were first in the space tourism marketplace, and we are glad to expand our capabilities by adding a fifth Soyuz and to use these three additional opportunities for commercial flight participants,” RSC Energia President Vitaly Lopota said in a statement.
     In 2001, Space Adventures launched Dennis Tito, the world’s first privately funded space explorer, to the ISS. Since then, the company has arranged seven additional missions.