Last day in orbit for space tourist

Intense media interest in Tito

The world's first-ever space tourist, Dennis Tito, is spending his last day in space, preparing to return to Earth after his controversial multi-million dollar adventure.

Mr Tito is set to return to Earth at in the early hours of Sunday, eight days after achieving his ambition of blasting into orbit and sparking a row between Nasa and the Russian space agency.

The airlock between the ISS and the supply vessel due to bring him back down to Earth will be closed at 2312 GMT on Saturday, with the undocking set for 0219 GMT on Sunday.

The Soyuz TM-31 that is to bring Tito and his two Russian companions is scheduled to land in the desert of Kazakhstan at 0541 GMT.

On arrival the three cosmonauts will be taken to the Baikonur cosmodrome from which they blasted off on 28 April.

Listening to opera

During his time on the International Space Station (ISS), the Californian financier and former space scientist has spent most of his time taking photographs, gazing at the Earth and listening to opera music.

He also helped the ISS crew by carrying out "menial tasks", such as serving up food.

Mr Tito paid Russia some $20m (£14m) to travel to the ISS.

But according to the American space agency, Mr Tito's presence on the ISS is causing stress at Nasa.

"The current situation has put an incredible stress on the men and women of Nasa," Dan Goldin told a US House of Representatives panel on space and aeronautics on Wednesday.

"Mr Tito does not realise the efforts of thousands of people, in the United States and Russia, who are working to protect his safety and the safety of everyone else."

But Mr Tito said he had spent most of his time in an area of the ISS more than 100 metres (328 ft) away from the US segment of the ship, and that his presence did not hinder the work of the crew.

He has also denied reports that his movements on the ISS were being monitored.