U.S. Billionaire Soars Into Orbit (and the ride only cost $25M!)

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070407/russia-space

U.S. Billionaire Soars Into Orbit

MARIA DANILOVA | AP | April 7, 2007 04:13 PM EST

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — A Russian rocket carrying the American billionaire who helped develop Microsoft Word roared into the night skies over Kazakhstan Saturday, sending Charles Simonyi and two cosmonauts soaring into orbit on a two-day journey to the international space station.

Climbing on a column of smoke and fire into the clouds over the bleak steppes, the Soyuz TMA-10 capsule lifted off at 11:31 p.m. local time, casting an orange glow over the Baikonur cosmodrome and dozens of officials and well-wishers watching from about a mile away.

The capsule turned northeast and moved downrange before entering orbit about 10 minutes later. It was scheduled to rendezvous with the station Monday.

Among those bidding farewell was Simonyi's friend Martha Stewart, who watched the launch from a location separate from other spectators.

Stewart's presence in Baikonur inspired wide speculation that she and Simonyi _ friends for about a decade _ were planning to announce their engagement.

After seeing Simonyi off for final preparations, Stewart spent the final hours before the launch aboard another mode of transportation common to this part of Kazakhstan's steppes _ a camel.

"The ride was excellent," she said.

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[MikeNearMcChord]

1. And just think Bush wants more tax cuts, so more

billionaires can fly in space.