From cyber-to-outer-space: 5 million dollars from Google leader

Tech News

Jun 11, 2008, 19:12 GMT

New York - Google co-founder Sergey Brin is planning to make the transition from cyberspace to outer space. Google creators Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R). Brin is planning to make the transition from cyberspace to outer space. EPA/BORIS ROESSLER

Google creators Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R). Brin is planning to make the transition from cyberspace to outer space. EPA/BORIS ROESSLERThe young billionaire has invested 5 million dollars as a down payment to space travel company Space Adventures in return for a seat on a flight to the international space station aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, according to an announcement Wednesday. Space Adventures has already sent several wealthy adventurers into space in conjunction with the cash-strapped Russian space program on flights that cost 25 million dollars each. Space Adventures' co-founder and chief executive officer Eric Anderson said Brin could choose to fly as early as 2011, when the company has contracted for the exclusive use of a Soyuz flight. On that flight two spots would be available for paying passengers, with a professional Russian cosmonaut in the driver's seat. Until now passengers used a spare seat on a Soyuz craft flying on official missions to the space station. 'I am a big believer in the exploration and commercial development of the space frontier, and am looking forward to the possibility of going into space,' Space Adventures quoted Brin, 34, as saying. Brin founded Google as a post grad student at Stanford University in 2001 and currently ranks as the fifth-richest American on Forbes magazine's 2007 list, with an estimated net worth of 18.5 billion dollars. Five private citizens have so far made the trip to the space station: California investor Dennis Tito in 2001; South African Internet tycoon Mark Shuttleworth in 2002; American scientist- businessman Greg Olsen in 2005; Iranian-American entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari in 2006; and Hungarian-American software billionaire Charles Simonyi in 2007.

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RozJun 12th, 2008 - 16:51:31

Google lies when they say their motto is do no evil - their compliance with the Chinese government in screening and blocking internet use and freedom of information is evil. They do evil and they lie about it too.

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