Russians say no space odyssey for boy band star

It was meant to be the most expensive public relations stunt in history, launching a boy band singer into orbit for a one-off appearance at the International Space Station.

Now the tour is off, however, after the Russian space agency ripped up the contract due to non-payment of fees and "crude violations" of its terms.

Following months of preparation and meeting a £13m bill, Lance Bass, singer with the US teen band 'N Sync was supposed to become the third space tourist in October, the third man of a Belgian and Russian crew to the ISS.

But the Russian space agency, which were due to begin the final stages of Bass's training after his arrival in Moscow, said yesterday that his trip was off, claiming they had yet to receive any payments from Destiny Productions, the company behind Bass's trip. Instead, they decided to send a less troublesome commodity into space instead: some spare parts.

Sergei Gorbunov, press secretary of the space agency: "We waited for a long time, patiently taking into account the difficulties on the American side. But unfortunately, the money did not come. Thus today he was informed that his flight would not take place.

"He left the Star City. We are not sending a new cosmonaut, as it is too late to prepare a new member of the crew. The flight is still scheduled for October 28."

Radio Shack, the American electronics giant, sponsored the medical checks and early stages of Bass's training. But funding for the later parts was through a deal with a major television network and a production company.

It is understood that a series of commitments have yet to be met. Insuring the pop singer for such a potentially hazardous and unprecedented trip was also a more protracted process than expected.

Although the space agency declared the decision final, Mir-Corp, who helped mediate and organise the trip for Bass's promoters Destiny Productions, said it remained optimistic.

"Discussions between Destiny Productions and their Russian colleagues continue. They had a meeting today and they will continue tomorrow," said Gert Weyer, managing director of Mir-Corp. "They are confident that they will pull it off and the funds will be available."

It could be that yesterday's announcement is part of a complex game of brinkmanship between Mir-Corp and Lance Bass's backers who may think their Russian counterparts have already invested far too much to back out.