ON THIS DAY

September 30, 2009 – Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté became the first Canadian space tourist, taking part in a mission he hoped would increase awareness of the need for global water conservation. Laliberté donned a red clown nose before blast-off. His cheering supporters broke into a chorus of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” upon hearing his ship had entered orbit. The twelve-day round trip to the International Space Station came with a price tag of US$35 million.