American Notes SPACE

Want a real blast? The thrill of a ride in space seems so enticing to adventurous Americans that callers last week jammed the lines of a Houston company that offered a chance to win a trip to Soviet space station Mir. The winner of the sweepstakes would have to train for as long as six months in the Soviet Union but would also get $500,000. Or if he or she got cold feet and decided to pass up the rocket ride, the earthbound consolation prize would be $1.5 million.

The starry offer was made by Space Travel Services Corp., a company formed by three Houston space enthusiasts who hope to serve as travel agents for intrepid souls who want to go out of this world. Soviet officials confirmed that a letter of intent to take on an American passenger has been signed with an intermediary for the Texas firm.

Would-be cosmonauts have plenty of time to ponder the far-out trip: the % drawing is set for next December, and the flight may not occur until 1993. Texas officials, however, have begun an investigation to determine whether the conditions of the offer amounted to a lottery rather than a sweepstakes. If so, it would violate state law and presumably be canceled long before the countdown begins.