Photos: Microsoft veteran blasts into orbit

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Summary

Billionaire software mogul Charles Simonyi has become the world's fifth space tourist after embarking on a flight aboard a Russian spaceship on Saturday

Topics

Charles Simonyi, Microsoft, Space

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PHOTO

On Thursday, the rocket carrying the trio was moved to the launch pad and set upright. On Friday, it was filled with oxygen and kerosene, according to the Reuters news agency. Liftoff was scheduled for just before midnight local time on Saturday from the Baikonur space facility in Kazakhstan, and the travellers were expected to arrive at the International Space Station on Monday.

"They will get into the Soyuz two and a half hours before the launch to prepare themselves," said Nikolai Sevastianov, head of the Russian space company SP Korolev RSC Energia, according to Reuters. "And once they lift off, they will reach orbit in about 530 seconds."

Photo credit: Charlesinspace.com

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