Trampoline show founder becomes first clown in space
30/09/2009 The founder of Cirque de Soleil, the world famous circus which features trampolines and theatrical performances, officially became the first clown in space.
Guy Laliberte, who owns one of the world's biggest circus brands, took a giant leap for clowns as he boarded a spacecraft wearing a red nose and singing.
Mr Laliberte entered the Soyuz capsule which took off from Kazakhstan today with Jeffrey Williams, an American astronaut, and Maxim Surayev, a Russian cosmonaut.
The entertainer even had red noses for his crew members, and was given a rendition of Elton John's 'Rocket Man' by family and friends on the ground.
Claudia Barilla, a former model and Laliberte's partner, watched the rocket take off wearing a yellow nose and carrying their child.
"I'm very happy for him. It's amazing," she said, with tears running down her face.
A mission control official said the astronauts were in excellent spirits and a NASA TV announcer said they were safely in orbit.
Meanwhile, back on terra firma, Cirque de Soleil's latest show Ovo is touring in Canada
Guy Laliberte, who owns one of the world's biggest circus brands, took a giant leap for clowns as he boarded a spacecraft wearing a red nose and singing.
Mr Laliberte entered the Soyuz capsule which took off from Kazakhstan today with Jeffrey Williams, an American astronaut, and Maxim Surayev, a Russian cosmonaut.
The entertainer even had red noses for his crew members, and was given a rendition of Elton John's 'Rocket Man' by family and friends on the ground.
Claudia Barilla, a former model and Laliberte's partner, watched the rocket take off wearing a yellow nose and carrying their child.
"I'm very happy for him. It's amazing," she said, with tears running down her face.
A mission control official said the astronauts were in excellent spirits and a NASA TV announcer said they were safely in orbit.
Meanwhile, back on terra firma, Cirque de Soleil's latest show Ovo is touring in Canada
