Mir Ride Set Despite Hoax Accusations

HOUSTON —  A Soviet official said today a contract has been signed to allow an American to travel to the Mir space station, despite a report by the official Soviet news agency that a sweepstakes offering the trip was a hoax.

“The Soviet side agreed to it. We signed a letter of intent on Nov. 22,” said Vladimir Nikitsky, the deputy director of foreign trade subsidiary of NPO Energia, which negotiates commercial deals for the Soviet space program.

The contest operators--who had pronounced the Tass news report that the sweepstakes was a “cosmic canard” a misunderstanding--appeared today before a grand jury.

The district attorney’s office Tuesday subpoenaed three executives of Space Travel Services to answer questions on whether the promotion, which contestants can enter by dialing a 900-number for $2.99, violates Texas lottery laws.

“There’s just so much information coming from so many sources so fast we just had to look into it. We’re dubious,” said Russell Turbeville, head of the consumer fraud division.

Texas law bars charging people for a chance to win something.

Space Travel insisted it has a contract with the Soviets. The Houston company also said the contest is legal because people can also enter by mail for free.

“We have done nothing wrong,” said James Davidson, Space Travel senior vice president.

After the company began offering a chance to win a trip aboard a Soviet rocket and a week on the space station, so many calls came in from around the country that the telephone system handling them collapsed Monday.

By the time the system was restored Tuesday, Tass had called the promotion a hoax.

“We basically have our contract in hand, so we know that we’re basically straight,” said David Mayer, Space Travel president.

A spokesman for Space Travel today expressed relief with the acknowledgement from Soviet authorities that a contract exists.