Shuttleworth blasts off into space

April 25 2002 — Mark Shuttleworth, 28, blasts off aboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 as the second self-funded space tourist and first South African in space. Flying through Space Adventures, he paid approximately $20m for the voyage and had to undergo one year of training and preparation, including seven months spent in Star City, Russia. Two days after lift-off, the spacecraft arrives at the International Space Station (ISS), where he spends eight days participating in experiments related to Aids and genome research. He returns to Earth on Soyuz TM-33 on May 5. While on board the ISS, Shuttleworth speaks to President Thabo Mbeki via satellite link as part of the Freedom Day celebrations. On May 2 he has a conversation with former president Nelson Mandela and Michelle Foster, 14, who casually remarks: “I was wondering if you would like to marry me.” He responds: “I am very honoured by the question. I hear you would like to be an astronomer. You would love it in space.” Shuttleworth also calls her from the space station the next day. The terminally ill Michelle was given the opportunity to have the conversation by the Reach for a Dream Foundation. She loses her two-year battle with cancer on May 26. Shuttleworth, born in Welkom on September 18 1973, founded his first company, Thawte Consulting (for digital certificates and internet security), in 1995. He sold it to VeriSign in 1999, earning him R3.5bn. He now lives on the Isle of Man and holds dual SA and UK citizenship.