Amsterdam-based MirCorp inaugurated its Citizen Explorer Program, which soon may provide the first commercial manned flight opportunity for private citizens.

Dennis Tito, a 59-year-old California millionaire is slated to become the first tourist in space with a 10-day trip to the Russian space station planned for the beginning of next year.

Even though the exact ticket price was not disclosed by MirCorp officials, those close to the project acknowledged that it is close to $20 million.

MirCorp now is establishing an office in Moscow to coordinate and support its Citizen Explorers. Jeffery Manber, MirCorp president, said his company will proceed with caution in picking participants who can meet the high demands space travel inflicts on the body. “We will not be cutting corners with this program. This is serious business which will require serious training,” Manber said.

The news of the Citizen Explorer program establishment comes on the heels of the successful completion of the Mir refurbishment mission sponsored by MirCorp earlier this year. On June 16, Russian cosmonauts Sergei Zalyotin and Alexander Kalery landed in Kazakhstan ending their 73-day mission. The cosmonauts repaired air leaks, replaced deteriorating batteries and revitalized the station’s life support system, which prepared the station for commercial use.

“Our new Citizen Explorer program is one element of MirCorp’s broad-based business plan, which also foresees commercial uses of Mir that range from pharmaceutical research and other traditional space activities to novel business applications such as an Internet portal and real-time imaging of the Earth,” added Manber.

Likewise, MirCorp will fund a new resupply mission this year using a Progress unmanned rocket to ensure the station remains in operational condition for the long-term.