Space tourist returns to orbit
Published 24 March, 2009, 12:24
Billionaire Charles Simonyi is heading for the stars again on Thursday to become the first tourist to go into orbit twice – after his first trip to space two years ago.
60 year-old Simonyi made his way into the Guiness Book of World Records back in 2007 as the first tourist to stay in orbit for twelve days. This time he’s about to set another record – as a repeat customer of the Russian Space Agency. Overall, his hobby has already cost him $ 60 million ($35 million this time). His wife says that's too much, and he has promised not to go again.
In turn, Mr. Simonyi says “she's my boss and she's certainly right. I should spend more time with the family… I offered her, but she doesn't want to go. I think that it's still a little bit too technical, too difficult, but she's learning to fly helicopters, so it's step by step”.
Simonyi’s “boss” is just 23 years old. Journalists are waiting for her arrival at the Baikonur cosmodrome in anticipation. So too are they looking forward to meeting the family of fellow astronaut Michael Barratt and his five kids.
Barratt says “we will miss our families – That is number one thing. The number two thing is that we all want to fly well and not make mistakes. It's a big responsibility. It's a very expensive and complicated platform and I want to make the best use of it as possible.”
The Soyuz spacecraft that will deliver cosmonauts to space is actually the oldest and also the safest launch vehicle in the world. It consists of three parts which are delivered to Kazakhstan from Russia on a secret train, by a secret route and on a top secret schedule. The train makes no stops on its way.
Unlike the U.S. shuttle, the Russian carrier is only for single use.
It takes up to two years to produce all parts of the Soyuz launch vehicle, another two months to put the spacecraft together and less than 9 minutes for a large part of it to burn up and be destroyed in the atmosphere. This costly venture is repeated every six months.
Engineers behind the assembly say that every Soyuz spacecraft is unique and has its own character.
Deputy Chief of Assembly Workshop Gennady Demidov says his job never gets tedious. “I’ve taken part in the assembling of more than 100 launch vehicles. I’ve lost count. But every piece of new work is always like the first one for me. It’s very exciting! I cannot say I've got used to it and it's become routine. Definitely not!”
It's also exciting to see the Earth from space. In fact, some – such as space tourist Charles Simyoni – grow quite nostalgic for home.
He says that “space is a nice place. It's a nice place to visit, but I think I would want to go back to Earth.”
This flight could actually become the last one for tourists aboard Soyuz.
Starting in May this year 6, instead of 3 crew members, will be delivered to the ISS.
It could provide more opportunities for space research – but less for space tourism. It appears there might be insufficient room to accomodate private adventurers in space.
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