US astronaut Michael Fincke (L), US billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi (R), and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov (C) joni hands at a press conference outside Moscow in Star City on April 10, 2009. A Russian Soyuz TMA-13 space capsule carrying US astronaut Michael Fincke, US billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov returned to earth on April 8. Getty Images logo Getty Images 7 months ago

US astronaut Michael Fincke (L), US billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi (R), and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov (C) joni hands at a press conference outside Moscow in Star City on April 10, 2009. A Russian Soyuz TMA-13 space capsule carrying US astronaut Michael Fincke, US billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov returned to earth on April 8.

More Photos of Charles Simonyi

View as Grid »

  1. Canadian billionaire Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte, is seen before the final preflight practical examination in a mock-up of a Soyuz TMA space craft at Russian Space Training Center in Star City outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte departs for the international space station Sept. 30 . Laliberte paid $35 million for a seat on the Soyuz rocket, the same price as Charles Simonyi, the station's previous guest. He will likely be among the last private visitors to the space station for a few years as NASA retires its shuttle program and turns to the Russian Space Agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to the space station, crowding out places for tourists.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Canadian billionaire Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte, is seen before the final preflight practical examination in a mock-up of a Soyuz TMA space craft at Russian Space Training Center in Star City outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte departs for the international space station Sept. 30 . Laliberte paid $35 million for a seat on the Soyuz rocket, the same price as Charles Simonyi, the station's previous guest. He will likely be among the last private visitors to the space station for a few years as NASA retires its shuttle program and turns to the Russian Space Agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to the space station, crowding out places for tourists.
  2. Canadian billionaire philanthropist Guy Laliberte waves before the final test in a mock-up of the Zvezda and Zarya training module in Star City outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. The Canadian billionaire who founded Cirque du Soleil wants to turn cosmonauts into clowns when he blasts into space this month. Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte departs for the international space station Sept. 30 . Laliberte paid $35 million for a seat on the Soyuz rocket, the same price as Charles Simonyi, the station's previous guest. He will likely be among the last private visitors to the space station for a few years as NASA retires its shuttle program and turns to the Russian Space Agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to the space station, crowding out places for tourists.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Sevilla's Luis Fabiano from Brazil reacts after scoring against Malaga during their La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.
  2. Benfica's Angel Di Maria reacts after missing a scoring opportunity against Sporting during their Portuguese Premier League soccer match at Alvalade stadium in Lisbon November 28, 2009.
  3. A reveller is airborne as he slides on his board through the streets of Icod de los Vinos during the annual "Las Tablas de San Andres" festival in the Spanish Canary Islands of Tenerife November 28, 2009. The festival, deeply rooted among Icod's citizens, involves sliding on "tablas" or boards down the steeply sloped neighborhood streets.
  4. Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo from Spain, right, and Malaga's Ivan Gonzalez from Spain vie for the ball during their La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.
  5. Sevilla's Fernando Navarro from Spain, right, and Malaga's Juanito Gutierrez from Spain, left, fight for the ball during their La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.
  6. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Beth Ditto of Gossip performs live on stage at Kentish Town Fourm on November 28, 2009 in London, England.
  7. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Beth Ditto of Gossip performs live on stage at Kentish Town Fourm on November 28, 2009 in London, England.
  8. Revellers react as they crash against used tyres after falling while sliding on their boards through the streets of Icod de los Vinos during the annual "Las Tablas de San Andres" festival in the Spanish Canary Islands of Tenerife November 28, 2009. The festival, deeply rooted among Icod's citizens, involves sliding on "tablas" or boards down the steeply sloped neighborhood streets.
  9. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Beth Ditto of Gossip performs live on stage at Kentish Town Fourm on November 28, 2009 in London, England.
  10. Malaga's Fernando Fernandez (R) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Sevilla during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville November 28, 2009.
  11. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Beth Ditto of Gossip performs live on stage at Kentish Town Fourm on November 28, 2009 in London, England.
  12. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Beth Ditto of Gossip performs live on stage at Kentish Town Fourm on November 28, 2009 in London, England.
  13. LAKE LOUISE, CANADA - NOVEMBER 28: Didier Cuche of Switzerland takes 1st place,Werner Heel of Italy takes 2nd place,Carlo Janka of Switzerland takes 3rd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Downhill on November 28, 2009 in Lake Louise, Canada.
  14. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro celebrates after winning the second set against Sweden's Robin Soderling during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.
  15. Supporters of Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro watch as he plays Sweden's Robin Soderling during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.
  16. Sweden's Robin Soderling returns the ball to Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.