Sarah Brightman sings during the Live Earth concert near the Pearl tower at the new business district in Shanghai July 7, 2007. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore and his global partners are staging the Live Earth concerts held on seven continents simulta
Sarah Brightman sings during the Live Earth concert near the Pearl tower at the new business district in Shanghai July 7, 2007. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore and his global partners are staging the Live Earth concerts held on seven continents simultaneously to raise awareness of environmental issues. REUTERS/Aly Song (CHINA)
Sarah Brightman sings during the Live Earth concert near the Pearl tower at the new business district in Shanghai July 7, 2007. Former U.S. vice president Al Gore and his global partners are staging the Live Earth concerts held on seven continents simultaneously to raise awareness of environmental issues. REUTERS/Aly Song (CHINA)

Family ailment had delayed British singer Sarah Brightman's return trip to Russia, but after some delay she is now back in the country to prepare for her trip to the International Space Station (ISS), Yury Lonchakov, head of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia, said on Monday.

Brightman was already in Moscow but had to go back to Britain to visit her sick mother. Since the preparations for an ISS trip lasts six month, Brightman had to temporarily take a break from her musical career and live at the Cosmonaut Training Center, reports Latin American Herald Tribune.

If she completes the six months training, Brightman would be the eighth tourist to visit the ISS. The last one was Canadian businessman Guy Laliberte who visited in 2009 aboard a $50-million flight.

Because of inflation, the 10-day trip of the 54-year-old soprano would now cost $52 million.

Brightman, known for playing the lead female role in the hit Broadway musical "Phantom of the Opera," plans to sing at the ISS where she would be accompanied by an orchestra on Earth, according to Itar-Tass, reports NBC.

YouTube/Juliette Adones

Her backup for the mini concert in ISS is Japanese entrepreneur Satoshi Takamatsu, who is in Russia and already undergoing the six-month training.

To contact the writer, email: v.hernandez@ibtimes.com.au