MONTREAL, Jun 03, 2009 – Though Guy Laliberté's latest Cirque du Soleil creation is about earthbound insects, his next might revolve around creatures from space, if he finds inspiration in a rumoured upcoming trip.
The Canadian Space Agency, along with Virginia-based Space Adventures Ltd., will announce tomorrow that a Canadian is forking out millions to become the next space tourist and visit the International Space Station in September.
That Canadian is said to be Laliberté, the billionaire founder of the Cirque, one of the world's most successful circus companies, with a presence on five continents.
"Multiple sources report that the mystery Canadian entrepreneur who will fly aboard Soyuz TMA-16 crew this September is Guy Laliberté," wrote space journalist Keith Cowing on his closely followed blog, NASA Watch.
The Canadian space tourist will take a seat on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and will remain in space for about 10 days.
A spokesperson for Laliberté could not be contacted yesterday.
Space Adventures is an American firm that contracts with the cash-strapped Russian Federal Space Agency to send private citizens into space in the Soyuz capsule. So far, six have made the trek, at a cost of between $20 million and $45 million (U.S.) each, according to the company.
Space Adventures would neither confirm nor deny the report about Laliberté. "All I can confirm is that details of our client will be announced on Thursday," said Stacey Tearne, vice-president of communications for the company.
It might not be surprising that Laliberté, 49, is taking to space, given his larger-than-life persona.
He began as a fire-breather and stilt-walker in a travelling troupe of street performers. Eventually, through gall and risk, he turned Cirque du Soleil into an international phenomenon.
He now has a net worth estimated by Forbes magazine at $2.5 billion, and he was one of the few billionaires whose fortune actually increased in the last year.
As he amassed his wealth, he has not been shy in basking in flamboyance. He travels in a private jet, has engaged in high-stakes poker in Las Vegas, and has been known for his infamously lavish parties following the Grand Prix in Montreal.
In 2004, Time named him as one of its 100 most influential people in the world. He was also named to the Order of Canada. He has five children between his common-law ex-wife and his current partner.
The first orbital space flight by a private client took place in 2001 with American businessman Dennis Tito. Last month, Hungarian-born software entrepreneur Charles Simonyi returned from his second trip to space, having previously flown in 2007.
Canada will be getting heavy exposure in zero gravity this summer as one of five partners in the International Space Station. Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk blasted off on a scheduled Soyuz launch last week and is currently ensconced in the station along with five others.
Another Canadian, Julie Payette, is part of the space shuttle Endeavour crew that will head to the space station in June, bringing its complement to 13 for more than two weeks.
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