Billionaire Charles Simonyi Talks Space Tourism

The scoop: Former Microsoft pioneer and billionaire Charles Simonyi is slated to be the first repeat space tourist -- at a price of $35 million.

Before his scheduled October 2009 flight, Simonyi took time out of his intensive training to chat with Discovery Space.

Simonyi To Space (10:26 AM): This is a test...

Dave on Earth (10:28 AM): Hi Dr. Simonyi -- looks like you've got the hang of this :)

Simonyi To Space (10:28 AM): I think so, but I still need to figure out the smiley face ;-)

Dave on Earth (10:28 AM): Ah, there you go.
I know your time is short, so let's jump right in: Where are you typing from?

Simonyi To Space (10:29 AM): I am at Star City. It's about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) northeast of Moscow.
Did I mention that I am typing on a cyrillic keyboard?

Dave on Earth (10:29 AM): Wow. No English letters?
That would kill me... I'm a hunt-and-peck typer.

Simonyi To Space (10:30 AM): Well, the English letters are there too. But it is still confusing.
Another name for Star City, by the way, is GCTC -- the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Dave on Earth (10:30 AM): Named after the famous Yuri Gagarin, of course.

Simonyi To Space (10:31 AM): Of course. Sculptures and other likenesses of his are everywhere.
He was a true hero.

Dave on Earth (10:32 AM): Very cool.
So you're training to go to the International Space Station in October, and this is your second time.
How's it going over there -- anything different this time around?

Simonyi To Space (10:34 AM): It is very compressed and busy.
We do a lot of physical training and intensive Russian language. I remember most of the technical stuff well, thankfully.
It's so compressed because we have only 3 months. The first time it was more like 6-8 months...

Dave on Earth (10:35 AM): ...so I'm lucky to be chatting with you! I bet it's exhausting.
What's been the hardest part thus far? Is it like a scene of out Rocky IV?

Simonyi To Space (10:36 AM): :-)
Well, they asked me to do a medical procedure -- which was then done at the Mayo Clinic -- to make sure that my heart is in good shape. It is.

Dave on Earth (10:36 AM): I see. That's where they put you on the treadmill and stick a whole bunch of electrodes to you, correct?

Simonyi To Space (10:37 AM): No, it was more than that.. I can pass the treadmill any time.
It is more... Dr. House-like stuff.

Dave on Earth (10:37 AM): If you mean the TV show, then it sounds scary...
Care to offer an example?

Simonyi To Space (10:38 AM): Catheters, anyone?

Dave on Earth (10:38 AM): ...

Simonyi To Space (10:38 AM): Indeed. I learned something interesting from the experience: The thickness of catheters is measured in "french"

Dave on Earth (10:38 AM): Why's that?

Simonyi To Space (10:39 AM): I dunno -- need to check Wikipedia. I think it was someone's name.

Dave on Earth (10:39 AM): That makes two of us.

Simonyi To Space (10:40 AM): Some example measurements, though, are 9 french, 11 french, etc.
Just sounds funny even if you do not know what it is.

Dave on Earth (10:40 AM): Sounds... uncomfortable. I won't ask what "french" you are.
But I will ask you about your childhood. Let's revisit Charles Simonyi when he was 13...
I hear you had an experience then that really made an impression on you.

Simonyi To Space (10:43 AM): I won a TV show competition of knowledge about space, and got to travel to Moscow and meet the then-current cosmonaut, Pavel Popovich -- now the senior surviving cosmonaut.
But at that time I hoped that I could go to America to study, so I was not that interested by a trip to Moscow. But...
It was still interesting as a historical slice.

Dave on Earth (10:44 AM): Thanks.
Now today you're getting ready for that second spaceflight; why take another trip to the space station?
Some might say "once is enough!"

Simonyi To Space (10:45 AM): I think of it as a continuation of the first one...
It is a little like you get your driving license, and then the first thing you want to do is drive.
The space agencies recognize the value of flying multiple times: The top 10 astronauts have a total of 60(!) flights among them.
Experience makes life up there so much easier, so much more can be accomplished in the same amount of time.

Dave on Earth (10:48 AM): Makes sense.
You analogized spaceflight to driving -- I understand you have a yacht called "Skat."
How does it measure up to the Soyuz spacecraft? Or perhaps a more fitting thing is the space station itself?

Simonyi To Space (10:49 AM): Well, spaceflight has a naval tradition -- like the Starship Enterprise, for example.
A boat, just as a space station, has to be self sufficient in power, in services, in communications, etc.
The ISS even has a ship's bell, just like a yacht or other boat.
It is used in ceremonies -- for example, when the command changes.

Dave on Earth (10:51 AM): So, if you had to choose... life on the yacht, or life on the ISS?

Simonyi To Space (10:51 AM): I am so lucky -- I do not have to chose!

Dave on Earth (10:51 AM): True! Now that leads me to my next question:
What are your greatest hopes for the mission? Your worst fears?

Simonyi To Space (10:54 AM): I am enthusiastic about spaceflight, and especially civilian spaceflight.
I hope the mission will continue to show that civilian spaceflight is a valuable addition to the total space effort, in a number of ways.
As for dreads? I have none.

Dave on Earth (10:54 AM): Speaking of civilian/private spaceflight, what do you think -- and hope -- the scene will look like 20 or more years from now?
Are you and I sitting next to one another on a commercial spaceliner for $1,000 a pop?

Simonyi To Space (10:56 AM): Good question.
I think the latest ballistic means we are about to see will be successful, and there will be thousands of people who will experience at least some of the impressions of space flights.
As for orbital missions, it will be slow progress unless our energy picture radically changes -- for example, atomic energy becomes more acceptable.

Dave on Earth (10:57 AM): I see. now I have two quick questions for you before we disconnect.
I took some questions from Twitter followers previously, the following one from Michael Joyce -- founder of the Next Giant Leap team for the Google Lunar X PRIZE:
"The Russians have announced that there will be no more ISS flights after 2009, do you believe they are serious?"

Simonyi To Space (11:00 AM): I cannot comment on this -- but I think private orbital flights will continue to make sense for all organizations.
By the way, I think the Google Lunar X PRIZE is a fantastic thing

Dave on Earth (11:01 AM): You pre-answered the next Twitter question, but here's another.
This one is from another GLXP figurehead: Will Pomerantz, senior director of space projects for the Google Lunar X PRIZE:
"How do you think GLXP teams can get funded?"

Simonyi To Space (11:05 AM): That is super tough, especially in the current business climate.
I think joining an organization that has any built-in interest could be one way, such as Lockheed-Martin.
Before we end this chat: I plan on reactivating and refreshing www.charlesinspace.com

Dave on Earth (11:05 AM): Thanks -- was going to ask you about that, too!

Simonyi To Space (11:05 AM): Really sorry, but I've got to run -- thanks for the interesting discussion!

Dave on Earth (11:06 AM): My pleasure, and thank you Dr. Simonyi.
Best of luck and safe journey on your flight!

Simonyi To Space (11:07 AM): Thanks!

Article posted February 5, 2008.

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