Canadian space tourist hosts space show to push water conservation

October 2nd, 2009 Craft carrying circus tycoon reaches space stationKOROLYOV, Russia — A Russian spacecraft docked Friday at the International Space Station to deliver Canadian circus billionaire Guy Laliberte — dubbed the first clown in space — along with an American astronaut and Russian cosmonaut. Two days after launching, the Soyuz TMA-16 capsule linked smoothly and on schedule with the space station orbiting 220 miles (355 kilometers) above the Earth.

October 2nd, 2009 Circus tycoon clowns around aboard space stationKOROLYOV, Russia — A Canadian circus billionaire boarded the International Space Station on Friday after a smooth ride up from Earth, and promptly played the entertainer by donning a red clown nose for a camera. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte became the seventh paying space tourist to travel to the station, where he plans to mix clownish fun with a serious message about the growing shortage of clean water on the planet 220 miles (355 kilometers) below.

October 2nd, 2009 Circus tycoon, 2 crew board orbiting space stationKOROLYOV, Russia — A Canadian circus billionaire boarded the International Space Station on Friday and promptly played the entertainer, donning a clown nose after a smooth trip up from Earth. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte became the seventh paying space tourist to travel to the station, where he plans to mix clownish fun with a serious message about the growing shortage of clean water on the planet 220 miles (355 kilometers) below.

September 30th, 2009 Laliberte buoyant ahead of space launchBAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — Even in a sterile quarantine bay, the world's first space clown couldn't resist the urge to perform. Two days before he is to blast off for the International Space Station, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte on Monday cracked jokes, donned his trademark red nose and flashed with enthusiasm over the venture that he wants to be both entertaining and educational.

September 30th, 2009 Circus tycoon: I'll tickle sleeping astronautsBAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — The man who hopes to be the first clown in space, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte, said Tuesday he would tickle fellow astronauts as they sleep aboard the International Space Station. But the impish billionaire, who also plans to hand out clown noses to the crew, says his $35 million excursion into orbit will have a more serious purpose: promoting awareness of the world's growing shortage of clean water.

September 17th, 2009 Canadian to lighten the mood aboard spact stationSTAR CITY, Russia — The man who plans on being "the first clown in space" said Thursday he's got some surprises planned for the crew of the international space station. Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte told reporters he plans to tickle the professional astronauts while they're sleeping, and he's also bringing red clown noses to try to lighten things up on the orbiting station.

September 10th, 2009 Space tourist plans water statementSTAR CITY, Russia — The founder of Cirque du Soleil said Thursday he'll be taking some reading material to the International Space Station this month. Not that he's worried about being bored, but he wants to read it to the denizens of Earth.

September 10th, 2009 Cirque founder plans ecology statement from spaceSTAR CITY, Russia — The founder of Cirque du Soleil said Thursday he'll be taking some reading material to the International Space Station this month. Not that he's worried about being bored, but he wants to read it to the denizens of Earth.

September 10th, 2009 Space tourist uses $35M trip to back water issuesSTAR CITY, Russia — The next paying traveler to the international space station wants to use his $35 million trip to highlight concerns about the world's water supply. Guy Laliberte, the Canadian billionaire founder of the Cirque du Soleil, said Thursday that he aims to read a statement to the world about the planet's water problems after taking a Russian rocket to the space station.

September 2nd, 2009 'First clown in space' has serious mission goalsMOSCOW — The Canadian billionaire who founded Cirque du Soleil wants to turn cosmonauts into clowns when he blasts into space this month. Quebec-born philanthropist Guy Laliberte departs for the international space station Sept.

July 23rd, 2009 Circus performer's flight preview steals NASA showCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A former stiltwalker and fire-eater stole NASA's show Thursday, saying he'll be "like a kid in a candy store" experimenting with zero-gravity tricks on his upcoming tourist trip to the international space station.

July 23rd, 2009 Circus performer's flight preview steals NASA showCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A former stiltwalker and fire-eater stole NASA's show Thursday, saying he'll be "like a kid in a candy store" experimenting with zero-gravity tricks on his upcoming tourist trip to the international space station.

July 23rd, 2009 Cirque du Soleil founder steals space showCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A former stiltwalker and fire-eater is stealing NASA's space show.

July 20th, 2009 Jones won't fly to the moon _ but his music didWASHINGTON — Quincy Jones won't fly to the moon — but his music did. As the crew of Apollo 11 rocketed toward their historic moon landing on July 20, 1969, astronaut Buzz Aldrin listened to Jones' arrangement of Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon." In a phone interview from Marbella, Spain, Jones told AP Radio that when he heard the news from Sinatra, it was "like something that's surrealistic.

June 3rd, 2009 Cirque du Soleil founder space-boundMONTREAL — Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte is set to become Canada's first space tourist when he travels on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September. Chantal Cote, a spokeswoman for the circus troupe, confirmed the trip Wednesday but would not provide further details before a press conference on Thursday.