Richard Garriott going into space

Ultima and Tabula Rasa creator to take mission on the International Space Station.

Scheduled for October 2008, Garriott is to take the first commercial mission onboard the International Space Station. Exact details haven't been revealed but the mission organiser has said that private sector involvement can include environmental and scientific research.

Garriott's father was an astronaut and thanks to the success of the Ultima series can now follow in his footsteps.

"Without the success I've enjoyed as the creator of the Ultima series of games, I wouldn't have had the resources to be one of the first private space pioneers," said Garriott.

Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa is scheduled for release on October 19 and for early access head over to Pro-G's beta key giveaway.