Did Money Talk in Getting Enomoto Booted Off, Ansari Put on ISS Space Tourism Flight?

Would-Be Space Tourist Sues for Refund
Associated Press

“A federal judge heard arguments Friday in [Daisuke] Enomoto’s lawsuit against Virginia-based Space Adventures, a firm that made its name brokering deals with the Russian space agency to put half a dozen “space tourists” in orbit for fees of $20 million or more….

“Space Adventures wants the lawsuit thrown out, saying that Enomoto was disqualified because of a chronic kidney-stone condition. They say his money is nonrefundable. Enomoto claims the kidney stones were an excuse and that he was not allowed to launch in part because he refused Space Adventures’ demands for more money….He was replaced by Anousheh Ansari, who became the world’s first female space tourist (pictured at right).

“Earlier that year, Space Adventures had announced a joint venture with an investment firm founded by the Ansari family. Enomoto claims that he was constantly pressured to invest in Space Adventures while he was a client, and that he was bounced in favor of Ansari in part because the Ansaris agreed to investments that Enomoto refused.”