The North American millionaire of Iranian origin Anousha Ansari has become the first tourist woman to travel into space on board the Russian spaceship Soyuz TMA-9 bound to the International Space Station (EEI).  

The Soyuz TMA-9, was thrust by a rocket Soyuz FG together in with North American tourist travel the Russian cosmonaut Mijail Tiurin and the North American of Spanish origin Michael López-Alegría. The rocket was launched at 08:09 hours of Moscow (06:09 Spanish time) from the Kazakhstan cosmodrome of Baikonur, in Central Asia. 

I hope the experience makes me aware of the fragility of the planet and of our common responsibility in its conservation. 

For the first time the Russian television broadcasted live the launching of a rocket with a manned ship. 

Double mission  

Anousheh Ansari, Telecommunications engineer and author of several patents, has the responsibility of carrying out two experiments, one biological and another medical, for the European Space Agency. 

Besides, she will take a large number of pictures and will work on educational projects. The specialist in communication networks also foresees to spread her experiences in Internet through a 'blog' from space. 

Few hours before take off, Ansari declared that she hopes her experience makes her take conscience of the fragility of the planet and of our common responsibility in its conservation. 

"I really hope my vision on the issue changes when I see Earth for the first time from the space", she declared in a press conference offered from the Russian cosmodrome of Baikonur in Kazakhstan

Her statements remember those of the first woman in having seen Earth from space, in June 1963, the Soviet Valentina Terechkova.  

Iranian of 40 years old  

Born in Iran, where he lived until age 16, Ansari who is now 40 years old, will carry with him a small flag of his homeland, although he won't exhibit it in the images broadcast during his stay in space. 

Ansari will return to Earth on September 28^th with the thirteenth permanent crew of the ISS integrated by the Russian Pavel Vinogradov and the North American Jeffrey Williams. 

Source: 20minutos.com  

Cubasi Translation Staff