2nd Space Tourist To Visit ISS In April 2002

Anonymous Coward writes "Another continent is represented in space: It has just been announced that Thawte founder Mark Shuttleworth is in the final stages of securing a seat on the next Soyuz launch in April. Press Release says he plans to do a lot of Science up there, with a whole bundle of other stuff. SpaceDaily seems to have broken it first of the commercial news, haven't seen it anywhere else yet. Go, Africa, Go! (Oh, and he reads Slashdot religiously ... Good Luck Mark!)" Looks like it's getting cheaper, too. I think it's time for a Slashdot staff meeting in space...

Comments

i propose to do some "science"

[trance9]

I volunteer to go up into space and conduct a scientific experiment to determine whether a 2 week vacation in space increases or decreases the productivity of an opensource programmer upon return to earth.

Dont let Katz go

[MisterBlister]

If you do shuttle up the slashdot folk, don't let Katz go. The last thing I need to hear is him whining about the corporatization of space, or how the 'jock' astronauts bully the poor geek space tourists, or how difficult is is to find a TV station airing buffy the vampire slayer up there.

Re:Dont let Katz go

[Moonshadow]

Actually, I was going to suggest that he be the only one to go.

Just with a one-way ticket.

hehehe! geeks in space!

[mr_gerbik]

hehehe! geeks in space! hohoho! hahaha! lets say it again and maybe it will be funny this time!

if the slashdot team ever had a meeting in space, i would surely try my best to depressurize their capsule and watch everyone explode.

When will everyone be there

[ackthpt]

Yes, and considering NO average Joes will go until a LOT of rich folks do (think cars, airplanes, etc, etc, etc)... I'd say it is NOT going to happen overnight.

And when it does happen, we can look forward to:

The first Domino's Pizza delivery in space, "Hey, the toppings are stuck to the top of the box!"

_Real_ scien-terrific 'spiriments, "Oh, man, he puked and it came straight out!"

Mothers equiped with instant cameras will line everyone up for a group picture over the Grand Canyon.

New anti-gravity sports leagues will be developed.

and inevitably, the below-average Joe's will arrive to make space totally egalitarian...

Rednecks in space -- "Dang! I haid th' gol-dang yard all fixed up with space junk and them nassa varmints are tryin't swipe it again. Maw! Git muh laser arn! Ahm agonna blast 'em."