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Space tourist lands
23 Apr 2007
An American billionaire has returned to earth following a holiday in space.
Charles Simonyi paid in the region of $25m (£12.4m) for the two-week break outside of the earth's atmosphere and finally returned on April 21.
He was joined on his holiday by a crew of Russian and American astronauts who put him through his paces and ensured his safety throughout.
Mr Simonyi is only the fifth space tourist ever and onlookers revealed that they were relieved to see him touch down safely in a designated region of Kazakhstan.
'We are excited to see him. It has been a long time,' Daria Lopez-Alegria, wife of a NASA astronaut onboard the capsule, told Reuters.
The landing was broadcast live on television and viewers saw paramedics rush to the capsule once it had landed.
Mr Simonyi was seen smiling as he was pulled from the vehicle and said afterwards that he had enjoyed the trip.
'I feel terrific, it was a fantastic trip, it is good to be back,' he said.
Commercial space travel may not be too far off for many of us with companies such as Virgin making progress in developing a space ship suitable for the journey.
Opodo is a leading online travel company offering flights, hotels, rental cars and holidays worldwide. Search for travel deals.
© Adfero Ltd
Charles Simonyi paid in the region of $25m (£12.4m) for the two-week break outside of the earth's atmosphere and finally returned on April 21.
He was joined on his holiday by a crew of Russian and American astronauts who put him through his paces and ensured his safety throughout.
Mr Simonyi is only the fifth space tourist ever and onlookers revealed that they were relieved to see him touch down safely in a designated region of Kazakhstan.
'We are excited to see him. It has been a long time,' Daria Lopez-Alegria, wife of a NASA astronaut onboard the capsule, told Reuters.
The landing was broadcast live on television and viewers saw paramedics rush to the capsule once it had landed.
Mr Simonyi was seen smiling as he was pulled from the vehicle and said afterwards that he had enjoyed the trip.
'I feel terrific, it was a fantastic trip, it is good to be back,' he said.
Commercial space travel may not be too far off for many of us with companies such as Virgin making progress in developing a space ship suitable for the journey.
Opodo is a leading online travel company offering flights, hotels, rental cars and holidays worldwide. Search for travel deals.
© Adfero Ltd
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