Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy Laliberte, became the 7th space tourist to be launched into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. As the US Space Shuttle nears the end of its working life, the Russian Soyuz rockets will be working overtime, that means Guy Laliberte may be one of the last space tourists for a while. Here are photos and video from NASA as well as an RT report from the launch.
Soyuz rocket launches into space LIVE on RT
The Soyuz TMA-16 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, carrying Expedition 21 Flight Engineer Jeffrey N. Williams, Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev and Spaceflight Participant Guy Laliberté to the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The Soyuz rocket is seen shortly after arrival to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Russian security officers walk along the railroad tracks as the Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The Soyuz rocket is rolled out to the launch pad Monday, Sept. 28, 2009 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is scheduled to launch the crew of Expedition 21 and a spaceflight participant on Sept. 30, 2009. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
An object from the Soviet space program, at the Permanent Exhibition of Soviet Achievment. Life magazine, October, 1961.
LIFE: An object from the Soviet space program,… – Hosted by Google.
In a search for alternative energy sources, Russia and other countries are once again looking to the moon. Russia is planning a new set of flights to the moon and possibly even a moon base. This all sounds very similar to the Cold War space race, but this time it’s less of a race and at least some international cooperation is expected. Here’s a report on the subject from Russia Today.
Related articles: Soviet Cities on the Moon?, China and Russia to Explore Mars Together, New Russian Space Shuttles
This Universal International News reel from 1956 takes an interesting look at the launch of Sputnik by the Soviets. The clip includes an animation showing how Sputnik was believed to have been launched. This news piece was most likely shown in movie theaters around America.
The February, 1958 edition of Science Digest featured an interesting article on Soviet plans to build cities on the moon. Of course the Soviets never sent men to the moon, and it would be another 11 years before Neil Armstrong would make his historic landing. Back in 1958, however, it seemed that Soviet plans to colonize the moon were taken rather seriously by American scientists. The article is very interesting and gives some historic perspective on the space race between the US and USSR.
China and Russia have announced plans to launch a joint unmanned mission to Mars in 2009. The two countries plan to explore Mars and one of its moons. This news comes as Chinese President Hu Jintao is visiting Moscow and attending activities to mark the beginning of Russia’s “Year of China”.
Link: Reuters – China details Mars exploration with Russia
Link: People’s Daily Online – Chinese satellite to orbit Mars
Link: Hu Jintao Pays State Visit to Russia and Attends Activities Marking the “Year of China”
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Billionaire software engineer Charles Simonyi is currently training for his planed tour to the International Space Station. He will be the 5th space tourist to visit the station with the Russian space agency. Simonyi started his programming career in Hungary using a Soviet-built Ural-2 system and plans to carry some paper-tape from that machine into space with him. He went on to work for several companies including Microsoft, where he helped develop Microsoft Word and Excel. Simonyi’s friend Martha Stewart has planned a gourmet meal for Simonyi to take with him and share with the space station crew. According to Reuters, the meal will include “quail roasted in Madrian wine, duck breast with capers, shredded chicken parmentier, apple fondant pieces, rice pudding with candied fruit and semolina cake with dried apricots.” |
Link: U.S. software developer to become world’s 5th space tourist
Link: Space station guest’s meal plan: roast quail to go
On June 16, 1963 Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. She orbited the earth for almost 3 days, taking photographs and keeping a detailed flight log. She only flew into space once, and it would be 19 years before another woman flew as part of the Soviet space program.
In later life, Tereshkova became a high ranking member of the communist government in Moscow. She was decorated Hero of the Soviet Union, awarded the Order of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, and the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace. In 2000, she was named “Greatest Woman Achiever of the Century” by the International Women of the Year Association.
Link: Wikipedia article on Valentina Tereshkova
Link: First woman in space dreams of flying to Mars
Link: BBC – Cosmonaut is Woman of the Century
CBC Radio has posted audio from their October 4, 1957 coverage of the Soviet satellite Sputnik. Sputnik’s launch took the west by surprise and marked a Soviet advance in the space race. Listen to this broadcast from 1957 and get a feel for the west’s reaction to Sputnik.
