First female space tourist takes off in Soyuz

First female space tourist takes off in Soyuz

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan - Anousheh Ansari, the Iranian-American entrepreneur became the first female space tourist when she blasted off in a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Ansari is thought to have paid $25 million for the privilege of going on the 10-day mission, which includes a stay on the International Space Station.

NASA's Michael Lopez-Alegria and Russia's Mikhail Tyurin are also accompanying her. They will relieve the current crew of the ISS, who will return with Ansari. “Ever since I can remember it has been in my soul and in my heart. I've always been interested and fascinated by space,” Ansari said earlier.

Ansari has co-founded telecommunication company in the US. She migrated from native Iran at the age of 16 and graduated with degrees from George Mason University in Virginia and George Washington University in Washington. Ansari said that she hoped her flight would be an inspiration for all women and girls. “I hope that not only my flights, but the life I have lived so far, become an inspiration for all youth all over the world, especially women and girls around the world to pursue their dreams,” said Ansari. “It may seem very hard... but looking at my background they can see that sometimes the impossible can be possible and dreams can come true.”

Ansari also wore the flags of both Iran and the US on her spacesuit. “I felt that by wearing the two badges I can demonstrate that both countries had something to do with making me the person who I am today,” she said. She added that if space exploration has to catch on in the imagination of the public, governments must work with private companies. "In order to make great leaps in space exploration ... private companies and the government need to work together," Ansari added.

Ansari is to return to Earth o September 29 accompanied by cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov and astronaut Jeffrey Williams, the inhabitants of the ISS since April.