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17 Sep, 2009 08:23

Canadian clown ready to invade space station

The crew of the latest mission to the International Space Station has set out for their rocket launch site after completing their final tests. Joining them will be Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil.

Space tourist Guy Laliberté has paid $35 million for the privilege of going into space. The team will blast off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in two weeks on September 30.

Talking to the press before leaving for Kazakhstan, the soon-to-be seventh civilian in space showed a clown’s nose, saying he will take it to the International Space Station as a symbol of what he is.

“I’m not a scientist. I’m not a professional cosmonaut and astronaut. What I’m bringing up there is what I am. And what I am is an artist, I’m creative and I think I’m a person with a pretty high spirit. So I’m going to crack jokes on these guys while they’re sleeping, tickling them.”

Guy Laliberté plans to stage a show right on board the ISS – the first ever artistic performance to be held in space. He promised that several celebrities including Nobel Award winning environmental activist Al Gore and Irish rock band U2 will be involved.

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