First Clown In The Space
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8281253.stm
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Space tourist and circus entrepreneur Guy Laliberte has begun his journey as the "first clown to go into orbit".
The Canadian billionaire was aboard the Soyuz craft which blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS).
Mr Laliberte, who founded the Cirque du Soleil theatre company in the 1980s, reportedly paid $35m for his ticket.
He says he will make the ISS astronauts laugh during his 12-day stay, and produce a web event that highlights the issue of clean water for all.
The Canadian is the seventh private individual to make the trip. While previous tourists have emphasised science as a motivator, Mr Laliberte says his inspiration lies elsewhere.
"I'm an artistic person and a creator. I'm not a scientific. I'm not an engineer," he told the BBC this month.
On 9 October he intends to lead a "poetical social" performance from orbit. The two-hour show will link up with contributions from 14 cities worldwide. The whole endeavour will be streamed on the web.
Celebrities, including former US Vice President Al Gore and Irish rock band U2, are set to make appearances.
The purpose of the poem, written by Yann Martel, author of the Man-Booker prize-winning novel Life of Pi, is intended to emphasise the need for all the world's population to have access to clean water.
The Canadian billionaire was aboard the Soyuz craft which blasted off to the International Space Station (ISS).
Mr Laliberte, who founded the Cirque du Soleil theatre company in the 1980s, reportedly paid $35m for his ticket.
He says he will make the ISS astronauts laugh during his 12-day stay, and produce a web event that highlights the issue of clean water for all.
The Canadian is the seventh private individual to make the trip. While previous tourists have emphasised science as a motivator, Mr Laliberte says his inspiration lies elsewhere.
"I'm an artistic person and a creator. I'm not a scientific. I'm not an engineer," he told the BBC this month.
On 9 October he intends to lead a "poetical social" performance from orbit. The two-hour show will link up with contributions from 14 cities worldwide. The whole endeavour will be streamed on the web.
Celebrities, including former US Vice President Al Gore and Irish rock band U2, are set to make appearances.
The purpose of the poem, written by Yann Martel, author of the Man-Booker prize-winning novel Life of Pi, is intended to emphasise the need for all the world's population to have access to clean water.
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