"We are working on the creation of communications satellites, remote Earth sensing systems for the SAR, training personnel for its space program, as well as a command center in the country," he said.

Perminov said Russia will launch a spacecraft for the South African Republic in late 2006.

"We plan to launch a spacecraft for the SAR by the end of the year, and space industry chiefs will attend the launch," the head of the space agency said.

He added that the possibility of a South African astronaut making a 12-day flight to the International Space Station was also discussed.

Perminov said that all the tourist slots on board Russian spaceships have been reserved until late 2008.

"Until the second half of 2008, all 'tourist' slots have been reserved," he said.

Space tourism is a popular phenomenon involving individuals who pay to travel into space for personal reasons. Three space tourists have made such trips - American Dennis Tito in 2001, South African Mark Shuttleworth in 2002 and American Gregory Olsen in 2005 - on board Soyuz spacecraft to the ISS.

Charles Simonyi, an American of Hungarian extraction, recently began training in the Moscow region's Zvyozdny Gorodok space training center for an upcoming flight.

Anousheh Ansari, a U.S. national of Iranian descent, is expected to become the first female space tourist when she flies to the ISS September 18 as part of a Russian-American long-term expedition.

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