Cirque du Soleil Founder Guy Laliberte On His Way To ISS

The next residents of the International Space Station launched into orbit aboard a Soyuz spacecraft Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonaut Max Suraev and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte, the founder of Cirque du Soleil, lifted off at 0214 CDT.

Soyuz Launch File Photo

Future Expedition 22 Commander Williams, Soyuz Commander Suraev and Laliberte are scheduled to dock with the station at 0337 on  October 2nd. They will spend nine days as members of a joint crew that includes Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka, NASA's Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott, the European Space Agency's Frank De Winne, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and the Canadian Space Agency's Bob Thirsk. The nine spacefarers will answer questions from reporters during a news conference from the complex at 0910 October 6th.

On October 10th, Padalka will transfer command of the station to De Winne, who will become commander of the next station mission, designated Expedition 21. Padalka, Barratt and Laliberte will land in Kazakhstan. Padalka and Barratt have been aboard the orbiting laboratory since March.

Laliberte, a Canadian citizen and the founder of Cirque du Soleil, is flying to the station under an agreement between the Russian Federal Space Agency and Space Adventures, Ltd. He will spend nine days aboard the orbiting laboratory. During his stay aboard ISS, Mr. Laliberte will share information about water-related issues through an artistic and poetic mission, with the theme "Moving Stars and Earth for Water." He hopes the message he transmits from space will raise awareness for the ONE DROP Foundation. The centerpiece event will take place on October 9 from space and in 14 cities simultaneously around the world, beginning at 2000 eastern time.

Central to the mission is a poem written by Canadian author Yann Martel. The tale will be delivered piece by piece, one destination at a time. The event will broadcast live on onedrop.org.

"Traveling has always been my way of life and I have been researching the possibilities of space travel with Space Adventures since 2004. But I needed it to be the right time and for the right purpose. This is the time. And the purpose is clear: to raise awareness on water issues to humankind on planet earth," said Guy Laliberte. "My mission is dedicated to making a difference on this vital resource by using what I know best: artistry. This will be the first poetic social mission in space."

FMI: www.nasa.gov/station, www.spaceadventures.com