Canadian space tourist Guy Laliberté blasts off

Canadian billionaire Guy Laliberté became the seventh space tourist today when he took off for a two-week mission to International Space Station on board Russia's Soyuz TMA-16 rocket

  • The billionaire founder of Cirque du Soleil - and former stilt walker - sets out from Star City outside Moscow for Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in neighbouring Kazakhstan for his launch into space
    Soyuz spacecraft: Canadian space tourist Guy Laliberte and US astronaut Jeff Williams

  • Guy Laliberté will spend two weeks at the International Space Station (ISS) on his space 'holiday'. It has not been revealed how much Laliberté paid for his mission but the last space tourist, US software pioneer Charles Simonyi, paid $35 million (£22 million)
    Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz Prepares To Launch Crew Of Expedition 21

  • Here, Laliberté prepares to board the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft at the Baikonur cosmodrome
    Soyuz spacecraft: Guy Laliberte gets into the Soyuz spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome

  • Part of Laliberté's training included emergency landing practice in a pool at the training centre in Star City
    Soyuz spacecraft: Guy Laliberte practices emergency landing in Star City, outside Moscow

  • He will use the trip to promote water shortage problems worldwide, which will coincide with a Poetic Social Mission - a global event featuring music and poetry performed by international artists and celebrities such as Al Gore, U2 and Joss Stone
    Soyuz spacecraft: The Soyuz spacecraft is lifted on its launch pad at Baikonur cosmodrome

  • On a lighter note, Laliberté is taking nine red clown noses into space - one for each member of the ISS crew, proving even space has a funny side to it
    Soyuz spacecraft: Guy Laliberte sits in a space ship during tests at Baikonur cosmodrome

  • Laliberté will travel with US astronaut Jeffery Williams, pictured here, as well as Russian cosmonaut and crew commander Maxim Surayevas and seven other crew members
    Soyuz spacecraft: U.S. astronaut Williams during tests at Baikonur cosmodrome

  • A security guard keeps watch while the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft is transported to its launch pad at the Baikonur cosmodrome
    Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz prepares to launch crew of expedition 21

  • The Russian rocket that will carry the crew to the ISS is installed at the launch pad in Kazakhstan
    Soyuz spacecraft: The Russian Soyuz TMA-16 booster rocket

  • Laliberté tries on his space suit prior to blast off. As well as launching into space he will be launching Cirque du Soleil for the first time in Russia this year
    Space tourism: Canadian space tourist Guy Laliberte

  • Lift-off - Russia's Soyuz TMA-16 rocket blasts Guy Laliberté, American astronaut Jeffrey Williams, Russian cosmonaut and crew commander Maxim Surayev and his crew into space
    Space tourism: Russian Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft blasts off

  • The rocket breaks the sound barrier
    Space tourism: Space tourist Guy Laliberte heads into orbit
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