SPACE ODDITY - Thu Aug 29, 2:53 AM ET

Lance Bass, of the pop group *NSYNC ( news - web sites), showed up at the Johnson Space Center in Houston this week to begin a week of training for a flight to the international space station ( news - web sites) scheduled for October.

Unlike previous space tourists, however, the 23-year-old singer isn't paying. He's gotten corporate sponsors, including MTV and Radio Shack, to pick up the $20 million tab. In return, Bass will film commercials in space for products he totes aboard and provide material for a TV series about his adventure. "It's the total, complete commercialization of space," says his promoter, David Krief, "but done with class and integrity."

Could have fooled us.

Actually, America's space team is doing a favor for the folks in Moscow by training Bass - without the week in Houston, he can't be cleared to fly. But why is NASA helping him? It's not as if Lance Bass actually brings anything to the mission. If the Russians want to sell their space program to the highest bidder, fine - that's their choice. But NASA should make it clear that shooting dewy-eyed pop stars into space serves no interests other than the star's, and his sponsors.

In fact, it's hard to think of a better way to trivialize the entire space program.

"Space can be very unforgiving if there's a mistake that's made," says flight director John Curry in defense of the singer's Houston training.

Exactly.

And that's why Lance Bass should stay grounded

I think they should have sent Ozzy, he's already use to that feeling!