Marking 10 years of space tourism (images)

With this launch, on April 28, 2001, the world of space travel changed forever. On that day 10 years ago, wealthy engineer Dennis Tito became the first-ever private space tourist, flying aboard a Russian Soyuz FG rocket, in this case the Soyuz TM-32. Tito traveled to the International Space Station, where he spent eight days.

Space Adventures offers those willing to put up tens of millions of dollars the ability to train for and fly aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station. A number of people have done so, including Tito, Anousheh Ansari, video game developer Richard Garriott, and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.

During his training, Tito climbs out of the Soyuz capsule.

Tito trained for his mission in Star City, Russia. Here, while in Star City, he is trained on weightlessness.

Traditionally, each Soyuz crew member signs the door of the dorm room they stay in the night before their launch. Here, we see Dennis Tito signing his door at the Baikonur facility where he trained for his flight, the first-ever by a "space tourist."

Each Soyuz rocket crew traditionally takes a photo like this one in front of their capsule. This is the Soyuz TM-32 crew, with the world's first-ever space tourist, Dennis Tito, seen here on the right.

Here, Tito and his fellow travelers aboard the Soyuz TM-32 mission wave their goodbyes before launch on April 28, 2001.

Here, we see Tito's rocket being brought to the launch pad. The rocket is being moved by a specially designed railroad car.

Not long before Tito's launch, the gantries for the Soyuz FG rocket are moved out of the way.

Here, we see a Soyuz rocket docking with the International Space Station.

A view out to the International Space Station from aboard the Soyuz rocket that carries space tourists into the sky.

Each one of Space Adventures' launches has been on a Soyuz FG rocket that took flight from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Here, we see the parachute holding the capsule that carried space tourist Anousheh Ansari.

Here, we see Tito during his training in Star City, Russia.

Here, we see Tito (left) and one of his fellow crew members training in their capsule.