spacetoday.net: Soyuz launches ISS crew, space tourist

Posted: Wed, Sep 30, 2009, 6:21 AM ET (1021 GMT)
Soyuz TMA-16 launch (NASA)

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying two ISS crew members and a space tourist lifted off early Wednesday. A Soyuz rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft launched on schedule at 3:14 am EDT (0714 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. On board the Soyuz are NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonaut Max Suraev, and Canadian space tourist Guy Laliberté. Williams and Padalka will replace current ISS crew members Mike Barratt and Gennady Padalka, who will return to Earth with Laliberté on October 10. Laliberté, founder of the entertainment company Cirque du Soleil, will orchestrate a two-hour global concert from the station on October 9 to raise awareness about the availability of clean water in the developing world. The Soyuz is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Friday at 3:37 am EDT (0737 GMT).