Microsoft millionaire Charles Simonyi will be returning to the International Space Station in the spring of 2009 after two years on terra firma. The news, announced this morning by Space Adventures, will make Simonyi the first private space explorer to go to space twice __— __ and in less time than most professional astronauts.
Simonyi, who has been captivated by space since he was a boy growing up in Hungary, joined Microsoft in 1981 and helped develop Microsoft Word and Excel. An avid pilot, he used his 2,000 hours of flying to help him train for his 10-day space mission. He launched on the Russian Soyuz rocket in April 2007 and dedicated his flight to advancing civilian spaceflight, supporting space station research and involving kids in the science of space travel.
Meanwhile, game designer and son of astronaut Owen Garriott, Richard Garriott is preparing for his October 12 launch to the Space Station, which includes outreach through the Challenger Centers and of course, Stephen Colbert's DNA in the Immortality Drive.
Wired wrote about Space Adventures earlier this month -- former Japanese client Dice-K is suing them for $21 million to recover the cost of his flight that he alleges he could not take because Space Adventures pressured the Russians to medically disqualify him, which under the terms of his contract makes his payments nonrefundable.
You can learn more about Simonyi and his time on the International Space Station on his website www.charlesinspace.com.
Space Adventures' Orbital Spaceflight Candidate, Charles Simonyi, Plans Spring 2009 Return Flight to the ISS [Space Adventures]
See Also:
- Simonyi in Space: 'Incredibly Fantastic,' but Weightlessness Is ...
- Astronaut Son and Ultima Creator Richard Garriott to Fly to Space
- Wannabe Space Tourist Wants $21 Million Back Over Scuttled Mission
- Going to Space? First Stop: 8 Months of Grueling Training in Russia's Star City
Photo: Space Adventures
