I'm not sure if Lance Bass is actually fronting the fare on this flight. It sounded more like it was a joint deal that was resting on negotiations with various media concerns that were looking for a choice demographic with which to market the video after the flight to recoup the investment. If this is the case I would rather send someone like Diane Sawyer or maybe Ann Druyan (Carl Sagan's wife). Each can cover the flight as a print/video journalist and appeal to both an adult as well as a teenage demographic (male and female). Even someone like Arthur C. Clarke or maybe William Shatner would be more suitable. (Although I doubt they would pass the medical...)

I certainly support artists visiting space. I just think that with current resources for orbital delivery being at a premium the best investment for everyone is to be more selective with the quality of skills, artistic or technical, of individuals being hosted on the ISS. If Mr. Bass is paying $25 million out of his own pocket to do this and nobody else steps up to the financial plate to supercede his offer then obviously he will be getting the seat. If, however, he is being financed from a variety of sources (who have many qualified journalists,writers,filmmakers,etc. to choose from) then I think there are better candidates out there than a young pop singer.

I believe there is actually a Polish gentleman who is the front runner right now. He has a PhD and adequate funding. We will see how media-starved the ISS coalition is in the coming months. Who knows...maybe this will start some insane bidding war amongst high profile musicians and the seat will end up going for 2-3 times the current asking price.