Cirque du Soleil Creator Ready for Space Travel

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte is on the countdown to become the world's seventh, and Canada's first, space tourist.

Laliberte has begun training at the Cosmonaut Training Centre Star City outside Moscow for his ride on a Russian Soyuz space craft this September.

The Quebec billionaire was listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2004.

[Guy Laliberte, Founder, Cirque Du Soleil]:
"This is a really big moment for me. I have been introduced as many things in the past: fire-breather, entrepreneur, performer, partier. But today, to be introduced as a private space explorer is an unbelievable and humbling feeling."

Laliberte will travel on board the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft with a Russian cosmonaut and a NASA astronaut.

[Guy Laliberte, Founder, Cirque Du Soleil]:
"I found that missing sense of discovery and I rediscovered my sense of adventure, the very essence of what stimulated me for many years when I lived and worked on the street. That very special camaraderie and the underlying law of 'I will watch your back and you watch mine'. I found it all over again at the International Space Community.

During his 12-day stay at the International Space Station, Laliberte hopes to raise awareness on water issues in the world.

[Guy Laliberte, Founder, Cirque Du Soleil]:
"Why water? Because it is a source of life and there is an urgent need to raise awareness world-wide of water issues. My theme is Water for all, All for water."

The Russian federal space agency launches a Soyuz spacecraft to the station every six months to rotate the crew.

16 countries are involved, and this is the time when private citizens can pay to travel into space.

Category:

Science & Technology

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• Space
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• NASA
• astronaut
• explorer

[MsPason]

Guy, I wish you good luck & a safe trip. You are a wonderful inspiration & thank you for all that you have done. I admire you as a person, the passion you have had as a performer & that you have given your performers an opportunity to grow & shine inside & out.

XOXO,

Pason

[askland]

Thanks for posting. Go Guy!

[CadetBrandon]

first canadian man? nah, weve had many more. couldve been a slipup,but weve had MANY more before:P

[osnelli]

Oh man, maybe if I were a billionaire fool I would loose my senses as well and would enjoy playing God for a while, lets say taking a good look on earth from above everybody else....hehehe....maybe he is just fool enough to think his amazing fortune can prevent him from accidents and tragedies mortal people may suffer.....yeah Guy, get going, risk your life in vein, it sure will be fun for you, but perhaps it may be a lot more fun for us, hehehehehe!

[jagexownage]

hes rich because he owns cirque du soleil?

[nardeldarf]

As Guy well knows, when you're alone in space, no one can hear you tell a joke.

[intrigaboss]

That's great Guy!!!