Clown given green light for space trip
Published: 29 September, 2009, 15:20
TAGS: Space, Russia, SciTech, Thrills&Spills
A Russian cosmonaut, American astronaut and Canadian space tourist have been officially deemed fit to fly to the International Space Station on Wednesday.
Space tourist Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil may be the last private space explorer for the next five years.
Because of the retirement of the US shuttle program, the Russian Soyuz program will have to handle all manned flights to the International Space Station.
The Soyuz rocket is now in position at the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan, ready for blast-off on Wednesday.
The 21st mission crew also includes Russian Maksim Suraev and American Jeffrey Williams, who will both stay in space for six months.
The famous clown and businessman, Guy Laliberte, who has reportedly paid $35 million for the flight, will only spend eleven days in orbit. But he has ambitious plans to carry out.
On October 9, Laliberte will be hosting a live show that will be broadcast live around the globe in support of the One Drop Foundation. He set up the organization two years ago to raise awareness about equal access to clean water in the world.
The show will bring together, among others, Al Gore, Peter Gabriel, Shakira, Salma Hayek, U2 and of course the Cirque du Soleil company.
As for some minor things, Laliberte said he’s going “to give the crew a bit of a tickling while they are asleep in zero gravity.”
Meanwhile, the crew and the space tourist are going through the last tests and do physical training. It’s not known whether Laliberte is giving “bit of a tickling” to the astronauts now, but with his clown nose he no doubt offers them some light moments.
25.09.2009, 12:10
2 comments
Superheavy 114 element experiment provedA US laboratory has been able to re-make an experiment to create element 114, ten years after it was first reported by a Russian group. It is thought to be a key part in the quest for the so-called Island of Stability. |
30.09.2009, 12:05
Giant leap for a clown, a bit more fun for the ISSRussia’s Soyuz spacecraft carrying the crew of the 21st ISS mission and first ever clown to go into space – Canadian billionaire and circus entrepreneur Guy Laliberte – has blasted off from the Baikonur launch pad. |
It's funny, to be raising awareness about equal access to clean water in the world, from a spacestation.