In this Associated Press photo: In this image made from NASA-TV, U.S. billionaire Charles Simonyi, front row right, flips upside down during a news conference after he, Fyodor Yurchikhin, left, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, front center, docked at the international space station Monday, April 9, 2007. A Russian-built Soyuz capsule carrying the American billionaire who helped develop Microsoft Word docked at the international space station late Monday, to the earthbound applause of Martha Stewart and others at Mission Control. In the back row, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria can be seen. (AP Photo/NASA TV)

Did you know Microsoft had an astronaut in their ranks? Well, maybe not an astronaut, but Charles Simonyi who helped develop the word processing behemoth that is Microsoft Word was recently launched to the International Space Station in a Russion made spaceship.

Simonyi, 58, lives in the United States where he amassed a fortune through his work with computer software, including helping to develop Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

Not just a space tourist, Simonyi has basically invented the first, galactic Meals-on-Wheels program by bringing with him a gourmet meal chosen by Martha Stewart to be shared with the space station crew on Russia’s Cosmonaut Day. He’ll also be doing some experiments while on board as well.

Update: After reading the complete entry about Charles Simonyi on Wikipedia, the connection to Martha Stewart has risen to the surface. Charles and Martha are currently dating!

Simonyi was bringing with him a sample of the paper computer tapes that he used decades ago when he first learned programming on a bulky Soviet machine called Ural-2.

While at the space station, Simonyi will be conducting a number of experiments, including measuring radiation levels and studying biological organisms inside the lab.

I can’t even comprehend the amount of money it would take to finance your own trip to outerspace like this. Totally amazing!

Full story: Space capsule carrying U.S. mogul docks

Post from: EveryJoe

Ex-Microsoft Employee Now an Astronaut – Charles Simonyi