Karl Doetsch, the president of ISU, ran Canada's human space flight program.

FORBES: The Space Mafia

Viewed as a respected author and a renowned expert on Mars, Dr. Zubrin has testified in recent years before several government committees and in 2009 spoke in front of the Augustine Commission on the subject of the future of America's human space flight program.

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Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures, the company sending Garriott into space, told CNN the training program is extensive, but does not exclude people from making the flight.

CNN: Training for civilian space travel is no picnic, Garriott says