Simonyi talks about second spaceflight

Superrich Charles Simonyi, who developed the widely used Word and Excel computer programs, said Monday that he hopes to blaze the trail into space for "people without the right stuff."

This spring the 60-year-old computer tycoon will make his second spaceflight to the International Space Station, where he has planned a leisurely stay, enjoying the wonders of weightlessness, contributing bodily fluids for analysis and gazing at the Earth.

"I'm trying to establish new minimum requirements," said Simonyi, who added that he isn't athletic enough to make a spacewalk.

As a worldwide recession rears its head, Simonyi also might be the only human with $35 million in spare change to spend on space travel. His worth is estimated at $1 billion. He leaves behind a 28-year-old fiancee, who issued a statement of support for her husband's adventure vacation.

Spending a scant 3.5 percent of his wealth, Simonyi will become unique among space tourists by being the first repeat customer.

"All of our previous customers have indicated that they do want to go again," said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures, which arranged the trip. In 2011, the company plans to start delivering two space tourists at time on a three-passenger Soyuz capsule.



Also in 2011, the Russians will begin ferrying U.S. astronauts to the space station, since the shuttle will stop flying in 2010.

On Oct. 12, Space Adventures' sixth orbital spaceflight client, Richard Garriott, son of NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, will fly to the space station. Garriott — a computer game millionaire, not billionaire — hopes to finance a second trip into space by hiring out to perform experiments, such as growing protein crystals.

"This is a business that can be carried out into the future, looking for repeat customers," said Anderson.

Garriott is part-owner of Space Adventures, and while his spaceflight is the culmination of a lifelong dream, Simonyi’s trip seems to be a combination of whim, opportunity and wealth.

At a Monday press conference, Simonyi said he hoped to "really enjoy it on a different level.

"I want to bring it back and communicate what I’ve learned."

During the spaceflight, he plans to make contact with Ham radio amateurs, add another volume to the space station library and see the Earth from a different orbital perspective.

Simonyi said the recent worldwide economic downturn did not affect his decision to fly.

"We have to look at these things in the long term," he said. "The timing worked out the way it worked. We either do it now or we don’t do it.

"I consider the cost in part a contribution to the space effort."

Visit www.charlesinspace.com to read more about Simonyi's adventures.