Sarah Brightman

British soprano Sarah Brightman has called off plans to fly to the Russian-American International Space Station, citing family reasons. The singer began training in Russia in January for a 10-day stay in orbit, 260 miles above earth in September.

Sarah Brightman has been training for the space programme, in Russia

However, Brightman - who would have had to pay a reported $52 million - has postponed the trip. In a post on her Facebook page, the singer said she had changed her mind for "personal family reasons" and said she was "postponing her cosmonaut training and flight plans at this time."

Continue reading: Houston We Have A Problem: Sarah Brightman Out Of Space Mission

Sarah Brightman is preparing to become a space tourist, but how much is she paying for the privilege?

Brightman’s flight was arranged for her by Space Adventures of Vienna, VA but according to CBS News, the company’s president, Eric Anderson would not divulge how much she had paid for the trip-of-a-lifetime. He did joke however that it was definitely a “round-trip” ticket. Of course, there’s more to this trip than just the price ticket; a chance for Brightman to experience an incredible voyage. Talking about the trip, which will require six months of intensive training before she can embark, she told a press conference on Monday (October 8, 2012) “This voyage is a product of a dream, my dream. Finally it can be a reality. I am more excited about this than anything I have done in my life to date.”

Continue reading: How Much Did Sarah Brightman Pay For Her Ticket To Space?

The ex-wife of Andrew Lloyd Webber, soprana singer Sarah Brightman is set to be the 8th space tourist ever. The BBC reports that the singer, of the dubious '70s hit 'I Lost My Heart to a Spaceship Trooper', says the trip is the “product of a dream, my dream. Finally it can be a reality. I am more excited about this than anything I have done in my life to date.”

There have been no space tourists since 2009 and only 8th person to date, although it will be the 9th tourist voyage since the first member of the (not so) 'general public' in 2001. Charles Simonyi has entered space twice, partly funded by his involvement the creation of Microsoft's 'Office' software, seemingly a far more pedestrian venture than conquering space. It has not been disclosed how much Brightman is paying for the incredible vacation, but Guy Laliberte, the man behind Cirque du Soleil, paid $35m (around £23m) back in 2009. She will spend 12 days in orbit.

Brightman has ambitions of being “the first professional musician to sing in space”. Brightman began involvement with VirginGalactic earlier this year, which is Virgin's project involved with space tourism. The 'Cats' and 'Phantom of the Opera' star has already passed all the physical and mental tests that are necessary for such a voyage, and she will begin the compulsory 6 months training for the mission after the end of her 2013 tour. The voyage itself is expected to take place in 2015.

Russia's next space tourist is to be none other than singer Sarah Brightman!. A spaceship that's been built by the country is going to be travelling some 400 kilometers above earth, and, by being on it, Brightman will be become the first space tourist since 'Cirque de Soleil' star Guy Laliberte. Brightman didn't reveal how much the ticket had cost her, though it's highly likely it cost at least as much as it would cost for NASA astronauts - $50 million.

Speaking at a conference the 70s star, who had a hit called 'I Lost My Heart To A Spaceship Trooper', said "I am more excited about this than I have been about anything I have done to date." She added to the assembled throng in Moscow "Most of my life I have felt an incredible desire to take the journey to space that I have now begun. This is beyond my wildest dreams."

Brightman remembers the original moon landing in 1969 clearly, turning her attention to it she said "It was something miraculous. For me it was an epiphany. It seemed so unrealistic and crazy at the time but I suddenly saw that it was possible." Of course at the time the US was in a great space race with their Russian rivals, temperatures have cooled between them though, allowing Brightman to make the trip.