US millionaire heads 'out of this world'

US space tourist Gregory Olsen (bottom), US astronaut William McArthur (C) and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev (top) wave prior to the launch of Soyuz-TMA-7 space vehicle with crew to the International Space Station (ISS) at Baikonur cosmodrom in Kazakhstan yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

With a brief gasp from relatives and friends of Olsen, cosmonaut Valery Tokarev and astronaut William McArthur, the Soyuz craft lifted off with an earsplitting roar from the Baikonur cosmodrome just before 10 a.m. and soared north into the bright autumn sky over the steppes of Kazakhstan.

More than 150 people, including Russian and US space dignitaries, tourists and relatives of the three men, watched as the rocket rose into the air. Some gave gasped at the explosive separation of the first booster segment, which sent a puff of white smoke as the rocket turned downrange. Then, as the announcement came that the spacecraft had entered its initial designated orbit nine minutes after launch, the crowd burst into applause. The crew reported that all was well aboard the craft.