There has been a successful blast off for the latest mission with a difference to the International Space station. The world’s third space tourist is among the crew of three that has lifted off from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan. US businessman and scientist Greg Olsen has reportedly paid about 16.6 million euros for the place on board the Soyuz spacecraft.

The crew is due to hook up with the international space station by Monday. Russian commander Valery Takarev and US astronaut William McArthur will replace two other astronauts who have been in orbit since April. They will return to earth in the Soyuz capsule on October 11, along with Greg Olsen. The businessman is the third paying passenger to visit the space station, following in the footsteps of American Dennis Tito and South African Mark Shuttleworth. Olsen, who founded the company Sensors Unlimited in New Jersey, carried out hundreds of hours of training for the flight.

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