Second space tourist lifts off

The world's second space tourist lifted off today in a Russian rocket from the Baikonur launchpad in Central Asia, heading for the International Space Station.

The Soyuz TM-34 rocketship blasted off at 10.27am Moscow time (6.27am GMT) carrying South African Mark Shuttleworth, 28, the first African citizen to travel into outer space, who has been dubbed an "Afronaut" by Nelson Mandela.

The London-based internet magnate will join two other crew members, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gidzenko and Italian Air Force pilot Roberto Vittori.

The team's mission, named "Marco Polo", is to drop off a fresh Soyuz rocketship, which have to be replaced every six months, to the space station.

Mr Shuttleworth has undergone more than eight months of full-time training and will participate fully in the mission, taking responsibility for radio and life support systems in the Soyuz capsule.

Rousing applause rose up at the launchpad and mission control outside Moscow when officials announced that the rocket had reached orbit about eight minutes after takeoff. The 49 metre (161ft) Soyuz is expected to dock with the international station on Saturday morning.

In South Africa, where Mr Shuttleworth's mission has been receiving blanket media coverage, the launch was carried live by both of the country's public television stations, while a pay station has devoted an entire channel to coverage. A number of schools let pupils watch the launch.

The trip will cost Mr Shuttleworth a staggering £20m at a rate of £60,000 an hour. The money will be paid in instalments that will be complete only after the team returns to Earth on May 5.

Mr Shuttleworth is following in the footsteps of American businessman Dennis Tito, who became the first space tourist last year when he also went to the international station on a Russian rocket.

The South African was commended by Vladimir Solovyov, chief of flights to the Russian segment of the international station, who told reporters at mission control: "You shouldn't assume that a tourist is not prepared for space flight."

He also welcomed the injection of new funds into the Russian space programme. Struggling to keep alive their once world-leading space programme, the Russians began exploring alternative sources of funding after the break-up of the Soviet Union. In addition to offering seats to paying riders, the Russians have courted western companies eager to tap into Russia's space programme.