US billionaire is first tourist to go twice into space on THURSDAY 26MARCH 2009
Hungarian-born US billionaire Charles Simonyi has become the first
tourist to go into space twice. The 60-year-old blasted off in a Russian
rocket bound for the International Space Station.
Billionaire Guy Laliberte became Canada's first space tourist - and the world's first space clown - when he blasted off towards the International Space Station in clear blue skies on Wednesday 30 September 2009 morning.
Laliberte, 50, paid $35 million for his ticket to space. He plans to use the publicity to draw attention to the importance of access to clean water on Earth.
An acrobat, fire-breather, philanthropist and a keen gambler, 50-year old Laliberte plans to use his trip to publicize the world's shortage of clean water by holding a global artistic performance organized by his One Drop Foundation. The Quebec-born entrepreneur is worth an estimated $2.5 billion and holds a 95 percent stake in Cirque du Soleil, which he founded 25 years ago.
Laliberte plans to stream out a webcast during his journey, which will be carried live on www.onedrop.org on Oct. 9. He's due back on Earth on Oct. 11.
