Another star may soon shine in outer space. Lance Bass of the U.S. boy band 'N Sync is vying to become the third space tourist to visit the International Space Station.

Bass, 23, may lift off as early October 22, when the next Russian launch is scheduled. He would become the youngest person to rocket into orbit.

"Of course I'm nervous," Bass says. "I'll be very nervous the day of the launch, but it's just more exciting for me to do something like that. It's a dream come true."

While Bass knows more about fans than physics, one businesseman who organizes space tours says that could work in the singer's favour.

"It's time to unleash the imagination," says Jeffrey Manber, president of Mir-Corp. "If it's a pop star from a boy band, he's going to show an entire generation of young people that you can dream about going into space. It's not just military, it's not just government."

In Russia, the bankrupt space program has no choice but to let paying customers take the seats of professional cosmonauts as a matter of survival, despite the risks.

"Now, unfortunately, the question of payment overrides other reasonable considerations," says cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov through a translator. "A guy can pay, but the less time he has for training, the more the risk."

Those aboard the space station are prepared to be gracious hosts, and even have an opinion on who the next visitor should be.

"We would be very happy to see one of these supermodels, but this is a joke and we'll be very happy to receive any space tourist," says Korzun.

Bass has passed the first round of medical tests he underwent in Russia in March and will now undergo tests in America. If all goes well, he'll go to Russia for six months to train to be a cosmonaut.

In April, South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth traveled to the International Space Station. American millionaire Dennis Tito became the first Russian space tourist last year. It's been widely reported that the two paid $20 million for the opportunity to orbit the earth.

Bass is being supported financially by a Hollywood producer and a group of companies.

The band's debut album "'N Sync" sold 10 million copies in 1998 and their 2000 record "No Strings Attached" was the first in U.S. pop chart history to sell more than two million copies in its first week of sales.