First Clown in Space

Posted by Miss Cellania in Travel & Places on September 18, 2009 at 1:26 am


Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberte is paying $35 million to catch a ride to the International Space Station on a Russian spacecraft later this month. Laliberte calls himself “the first clown in space.”

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.

“I’m a person with a pretty high spirit, who’s there to crack jokes and make jokes to those guys, and while they’re sleeping, you know, I’ll be tickling them,” Laliberte said.

Laliberte will also use his trip to raise awareness of world drinking water issues. Link -via Dave Barry’s Blog


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COMMENT

14 comments to "First Clown in Space"

  1. Gillian
    September 18th, 2009 at 1:37 am

    Why can't he just put the $35 million into the world drinking water problems? It would go a long way, and may encourage (or guilt) other big buisnesses and private investors to part with some of their cash also.

    Surely that would be a better use of his money if he was serious about making people happier and lightening things up.

  2. grcooper
    September 18th, 2009 at 1:38 am

    Conan was talking of this tonight.. just made me laugh... (not a direct quote) 'Not only will he be the first clown in space, he will also be the first murdered person in space!' Conan is great and his gestures are priceless... especially for this 'TOP' story.. lol

  3. Algomeysa
    September 18th, 2009 at 2:06 am

    Soyuz TMA-16 launching founder of Cirque du Soleil into space. Well, it's a start!

  4. joe
    September 18th, 2009 at 3:59 am

    he does give a lot of his money for charity.
    and he loses a lot of it playing poker.

    i guess he just likes to spend the money he has for things that he likes. good for him.

  5. free games for kids
    September 18th, 2009 at 4:47 am

    In space, no one can hear you squee

  6. Shannon
    September 18th, 2009 at 6:33 am

    Dunno why everyone is so down on this guy. I have nothing but admiration for him, and if I was as rich as him, going into space for a week would be very high on my list of "at any cost" life experiences. The fact that he made his money running a modern circus just makes the story richer.

  7. Leo
    September 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am

    It's his money, he earned it and doesn't owe the world a damn thing. They have a name for people who expect to spread the wealth of those who legitimately earn it, communists.

  8. felixthecat
    September 18th, 2009 at 10:16 am

    $35 million would not do a lot to help with global water shortages. Let this guy do what he wants with his money, and perhaps his critics could go dig wells in Mali.

  9. Yan
    September 18th, 2009 at 10:53 am

    I know several people who worked for this guy, he's a jackass.

  10. Zavatone
    September 18th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    I would so cause the first murder in space if I found that bastard tickling me in my sleep.

  11. Zavatone
    September 18th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Yo Shannon, I'm nowhere near as rich as him and on my vacation, I fly halfway around the world on my own dime, and donate to schools in Africa. It's not about what you want to do with your money, it's about how you can use it to help others grow.

  12. Gauldar
    September 18th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    I'm putting money down on him being fired out of the air lock after 10 days... well, make that 15, astronauts are well trained to cope in stressful situations.

  13. SenorMysterioso
    September 18th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    You're better than us Zav, good for you.

  14. FishBottleT
    September 18th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    Beyond what he "could have done" with his money, I wonder if he will even survive the intense strains on the body that space travel includes.


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