It is estimated he bought a ticket-at about $30 million US dollars-to fly aboard the ship where he and two other astronauts will spend 11 days in space. Garriott will be the 6th space tourist in history.
Garriott is well known in the gaming community as the creator, Executive Producer, Executive Designer, and other such titles on many popular computer games which include the Ultima series, City of Heroes and City of Villains, Lineage and Lineage II, and creator of the science fiction MMORPG Tabula Rasa.
Garriott is no stranger to the concept of space travel. In 1973 Richard Garriott's father Owen Garriott spent 60 days aboard Skylab; the first United States launched space station.
This is ultimately the greatest opportunity for someone whose life revolves around science fiction and fantasy. Writing about space and space travel would probably never compare to the experience of actually strapping into a space shuttle and leaving the pull of gravity behind. Garriott has taken a small step toward the dream of every science fiction fan in the world.
Garriott and his two man team are expected to land on October 24.
