IN SPACE, no one can hear you scream. But you can still blog, heh.
US billionaire Charles Simonyi, who helped develop Microsoft Word and Excel, has arrived at the International Space Station as a space tourist, and he’s blogging about his out-of-this-world experience.
Here’s an excerpt from his entry on launch day:
Today is launch day—a beautiful morning in Baikonur. I slept well and woke up around 10 this morning. We were fed a breakfast of low residue food, then the doctors got hold of us to check our vital signs and give us an alcohol rubdown. We had a lot of fun with family and guests who came to see me after visiting the pad with the rocket and reported that there was a brief rain shower and a wonderful rainbow afterwards. I am really looking forward to the flight.
Around 4 in the afternoon we will have a little celebration, and take the bus to 254, where we suit up, meet with the Government Commission again before the flight. I have a nice statement that I prepared in Russian—with help from Vlad and my other instructors—so it should be fun. Just before boarding the bus, in spacesuits, parade boots and white parade gloves we walk up to spots painted in the tarmac, and Oleg will declare our readiness to fly to the Chairman of the Government Commission. We will be each supported by a doctor so that we do not trip or take the wrong turn in the awkward space suits, that are better for sitting in than for walking. Then off we go on the bus, waving to the families and friends.
