Rose Marangiello continues to be very excited, (and admits to being a little nervous, too), about her brother's son and his latest adventure. Her nephew is none other than the 60-year-old California multi-millionaire astro-tourist and former NASA engineer, Dennis Tito, who blasted off aboard the Russian space capsule, Soyuz, and headed for Space Station Alpha. During a recent interview with this reporter, Mrs. Marangiello said her nephew told the family about the trip and asked them not to worry. "You know, he was always up to something especially when he was a kid. He was brilliant, constantly working on something and into so many things. The top was never enough," said Mrs. Marangiello. The divorced father of three lives in the Pacific Palisades, California, and visits his Glen Cove relatives when he can. He most recently attended a cousins' reunion which was coordinated by Mrs. Marangiello's daughter.

Two cosmonauts and Tito began their journey into space last Saturday morning in Kazakhstan amid controversy sparked by NASA's objections to Tito's presence. Tito is reportedly paying $20 million to be part of this mission in space, something he has always dreamt of doing. He has promised to pay for anything he breaks and has signed documents promising not to sue if anything should happen to him during his celestial trip. And of the $20 million Tito is paying to fulfill his dream, Mrs. Marangiello smiles and says, matter-of-factly, "It's his money, he earned it and he can do whatever he wants with it. We are very proud of him and we can't wait for him to return safely."