Czech astronaut not to fly to space

The Czech Republic will not accept an offer from the American company Axiom to fly Czech astronaut Ales Svoboda into space, Václav Kobera, head of the Space Activities and Research Department at the Transport Ministry, told reporters.  He said the reason is a lack of finances. The mission would cost around $60 million (CZK 1.35 billion) which the country can ill afford at the present time.