Space tourist shares adventure on web
Friday, 27 Oct 2006 12:31
The International Space Station
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Charles Simonyi, the next 'space tourist', has promised to share his adventure on the internet.
Web users will be able to follow Dr Simonyi over the next few months in the run-up to the launch he is participating in, which is scheduled to take place on March 9th 2007.
He is the latest in a line of the new 'private space explorers'. Anousheh Ansari, the first female tourist in space, was reported to have paid roughly $20 million (£10.7 billion) for her trip this summer.
Dr Simonyi, a software pioneer and aviator, will fly onboard the Soyuz TMA-10 shuttle to the international space station, where he will spend eight days conducting experiments.
Part of his preparation for the trip includes training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City.
His website, www.charlesinspace.com, is aimed at space enthusiasts who can see his pictures and read his insights into the process of preparing to go into space.
"I am fascinated by the technologies utilised by the American and Russian space programmes," said Dr. Simonyi. "As an engineer, I look forward to studying the different engineering approaches."
As well as Ms Ansari, other 'tourists' launched into space by space tourism firm Space Adventures are Dennis Tito, Mark Shuttleworth and Greg Olsen.