Until recently pointedly ignored by the "space establishment", the subject of space tourism continues to get discussed more and more seriously and frequently. In the February 9-15 issue of Space News it appeared in two separate articles.

The stream of space vehicle and tourism coverage in the media continues into 1998. The March edition of "T3", a UK technology oriented magazine, features a 5 page article on Space Tourism, concentrating both the problems with the existing space programme in general and NASA in particular, and on the commercial sector, focusing on the companies Bristol Spaceplanes and Zegrahm Space Voyages. Honorable mentions also go to Kelly Space technology, Kistler Aerospace and Rotary Rocket.

TV star Akiko Hinagata was given an out-of-this-world birthday present. During a televised celebration, her friends reserved a seat for her on the "space cruiser," a craft that could become the first private passenger vessel in space.

NASA has announced that Senator John Glenn (D Idaho), the first US citizen to orbit the Earth (in 1962) will fly on board the space shuttle in late 1998. Scepticism has been expressed about claims that this will be useful for research on ageing, and it is acknowledged that his case is exceptional. (There's a long queue of other ex-astronauts who'd like a flight!)

A joint press conference by NASA and the Space Transportation Association (STA) was planned for January 21st at the Press Club, Washington DC, and publicised in the STA Newsletter. However it was cancelled by NASA at the last minute, and a new date has yet to be announced.

Rotary Rocket Company, a California company developing the Roton single-stage to orbit reusable spacecraft, announced January 20 that it has brought on the same financial advisors who raised funding for the Iridium communications satellite project.

LOS ANGELES - Jan. 9, 1998 - Kistler Aerospace today announced that Walter Kistler (age 79), chairman emeritus, and Bob Citron (age 65) two early pioneers of the commercialization of space who co-founded the company, are stepping down from its board of directors to make room for new members who have agreed to join the Kistler Board. Both will continue to work with Kistler as advisors in a variety of capacities.

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Dave Weldon (R-Palm Bay) will challenge NASA to investigate the feasibility of space-based solar power systems at a House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing today.

Steamboat Springs, CO (October 22, 1997) - SpaceDev, LLC a Colorado-based holding company announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Pegasus Development Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PSDM) of Denver, Colorado.

Buzz Alrin's new popularity shows both that there's a lot of interest in him still, and that the general public are becoming increasingly interested in space again. Florida Today carried this article covering the return of the second man on the moon to the publicity spotlight: