Guide to the galaxy to be published

Space Adventures Limited, the world's only operating space-travel agency, will publish a travel guide to the stars next month to give aspiring and armchair astronauts a glimpse of stellar tourism.

The Space Tourist's Handbook promises to be the "ultimate guide for those who have ever dreamed of travelling to the final frontier", the company said yesterday.

The book will cover everything from travel planning tips to life-and-death survival skills, with sections on the best destinations, vehicles, types of missions, and training and preparation involved.

Publication comes on the heels of the return to Earth of US millionaire Greg Olsen, who paid Space Adventures US$20 million ($29.25 million) for eight days on the International Space Station.

Space Adventures is developing other programmes such as a sub-orbital space flight for about US$100,000 and zero-gravity flights for US$3000.