Radio 702 talk-show host Katie Katodis likened its impact on the country to Nelson Mandela's 1994 inauguration as president and winning the Rugby World Cup in 1995.

Said Mbeki: "Past competition between nations has given way to co-operation, and our own Mark Shuttleworth and South Africa as a whole are proud beneficiaries of this endeavour, and of the goodwill of the Russian government and space research authorities.

"In making his childhood dream a reality he has shown us the possibility of the impossible. He is the embodiment of the optimism and confidence of a nation to whom even the stars cannot be the limit. I am certain that, when he returns, South Africa shall give Mark the warmest welcome -- fit for the African achiever he is."

The callers to the radio show -- men and women, young and old, black and white -- were equally euphoric, praising "Afronaut" Shuttleworth as a hero.

Shuttleworth, 28, became the first African in space as he lifted off for an eight-day stay at the International Space Station in a Soyuz TM-34 shuttle from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

"I was watching the launch and I felt like a little boy, I got so emotional. You can never put a price on what this young man has done for this country. I felt so proud seeing the South African flag on the spacecraft," said a man named Tebe.

Shuttleworth's engaging manner has won wide support in his home country. "He's gone out of his way to talk to South Africans," said a caller named Debbie. "Like everybody else I had my heart in my mouth when he took off."

One woman said she had lit a candle for Shuttleworth's safety and would keep it burning until his return.

The youthful millionaire, who trained for eight months in Russia and one week at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, is expected return to Earth, with Russian flight commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian cosmonaut Roberto Vittori, on May 5.

A group of South Africans gathered at the Montecasino cinema in Randburg, north of Johannesburg, to follow the lift off on the big screen.

The audience cheered spontaneously when the mission control centre announced that the three had reached orbit.

Shuttleworth's trip was on the front page of newspapers around the country, with banner headlines like: "Space-bound: Africa's 1st spaceman on the brink of history", Mark's space safari starts" and "Journey to fulfil a dream".

After the take-off, Katodis said: "We can all associate with Mark for the simple reason we have all got dreams and what he does is show us that your dreams can be achieved."

A caller named Jakala agreed: "One thing he is teaching all of us South Africans is that dreams are achievable, no matter no modest or how grand."

This was one of Shuttleworth's express hopes, while preparing for his trip.

"I don't expect my flight to produce a generation of astronauts and cosmonauts back home, but I hope it will encourage people to pursue their dreams," he said ahead of his flight.

South African newspapers first criticised Shuttleworth's trip as self-indulgent, but swung round as the man who made more than 500 million dollars from an Internet security programme showed he was serious about conducting experiments that would benefit South Africa and launched a "Hip to be square" (Hip2b2) campaign for schoolchildren to encourage interest in science and mathematics.

Shuttleworth will conduct biology experiments involving rat and ewe stem cells, studying their development in microgravity and injecting several elements into them.

Research on HIV proteins also forms part of his mission, reflecting South Africa's unhappy status as home to the world's largest number of HIV-positive citizens -- around five million -- with some 70,000 babies born with the virus every year.

He is due to talk to schoolchildren over a radio link from the space station, and will talk to Mbeki on Saturday, which is Freedom Day, marking South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994.

Computer Prodigy To Become Africa's First Man In Space
Baikonur (AFP) Apr 23, 2002 - Mark Shuttleworth, due Thursday to become Africa's first spaceman, is a youthful idealist who sees his flight into orbit as a contribution to science rather than a rich man's self-indulgence.

Still only 28, and aged just 24 when he became a millionaire, the white South African said last week that he had planned from the start to be a crew member rather than simply a tourist.

"I wanted to train as a crew member, instead of just riding up there as a passenger. I wanted to do all the things space agencies do, which is run experiments and build an education campaign around the space project itself," he said.

Research on HIV proteins also forms part of his mission, reflecting South Africa's unhappy status as home to the world's largest number of HIV-positive citizens -- around 4.7 million -- with some 70,000 babies are born with the virus every year.

Shuttleworth made the fortune that will pay his way to the International Space Station two years ago at the age of 26 when he sold an IT company for 3.5 billion rand (575 million dollars at the time).

A business graduate, he set up Thawte Consulting, a one-man internet consulting business, in his parents' backyard in 1996 and whittled down its focus to security for electronic commerce.

The company made him a millionaire within two years and he became the first to provide a worldwide full-security e-commerce web server, providing software for encrypting information and authenticating Internet transactions.

A year later he sold the system to US-based competitor VeriSign.

By then Thawte had become the leading Internet certificate authority outside the United States, capturing 40 percent of the world market.

Little was known about the business in South Africa and locals were baffled to hear about a laid-back computer geek who wore shorts and had sold an obscure unlisted company for more money than they would ever earn.

The wonder grew when two weeks after the deal came through Shuttleworth promised to pay his staff -- which had by then grown to 57 -- one million rand (165,000 dollars) each in Christmas bonuses, including the two office cleaners and the gardener.

He also created the Shuttleworth Foundation, a non-profit body that funds education projects in Africa, serves as an IT advisor to President Thabo Mbeki, and sits on the board of bridges.org, an international non-profit organization that seeks to narrow the digital divide between rich and poor countries.

For all his philanthropy, his public image soured in 2000 when he moved to London.

It disappointed South Africans who recalled that he had vowed after selling Thawte that he was too much of a patriot to emigrate and add to the brain-drain of talented, up-wardly mobile citizens.

Shuttleworth dismissed the criticism, saying he had become depressed after selling his brainchild and needed time for personal reflection.

Today, he has once again become a national figure as he fulfils a "life's dream," heading for a 10-day trip to the International Space Station.

This will make him the second businessman to have paid his own way into space, after 60-year-old US businessman Dennis Tito paid 20 million dollars to become the world's first space tourist last April.

Shuttleworth, who has been training for more than six months in Moscow's Star City cosmonaut centre, will travel with Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and an Italian colleague, Roberto Vittori, aboard a Soyuz shuttle.

He will carry out a number of scientific experiments in space in collaboration with South African and Russian researchers, including tests on the impact of microgravity on the functions of the body and research into HIV proteins.

Internet Millionaire Ready To Holiday On International Space Station
Baikonur (AFP) Apr 23, 2002 - Africa's first man in space, Mark Shuttleworth, will blast off in a Russian Soyuz rocket Thursday for a 10-day mission that he hopes to use to combat the spread of AIDS in his continent.

The 28-year-old white South African computer entrepreneur, who is paying the Russians 20 million dollars to become the world's second space tourist, will take off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for the International Space Station.

"I decided I wanted to go into space when I was five years old. It's the dream of my whole life. In fact I have to keep pinching myself to be sure I'm not dreaming right now," Shuttleworth said last week as he set off for the launch site.

The South African, who will be accompanied by Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian engineer Roberto Vittori, is due to depart at 0626 GMT onboard the Russian Soyuz TM-34 shuttle.

The rocket, which is 40 metres (130 feet) long and weighs 300,000 tonnes, was positioned on the launch-pad on Tuesday at 7:00 am local time on Tuesday, in keeping with tradition.

The same operation took place at exactly the same time one morning in April 1961 when Soviet astronaut Yury Gagarin made his pioneering flight to become the first man in space and briefly established Soviet supremacy in space flights.

South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma last week wished Shuttleworth a good trip.

"You are a very brave and gifted person who has made the whole of South Africa proud," Zuma wrote in an open letter to Shuttleworth.

"We are also proud of you because you are the first resident of the African continent to go into space," he wrote. "This is a great achievement for the continent."

Some South African papers, however, have wondered whether he will really be the "first African in space", pointing out that Patrick Baudry, a Frenchman who flew on the US shuttle Discovery in 1985, was born in Cameroon.

Shuttleworth, who was born in Cape Town, sold his information technology company two years ago for 575 million dollars, giving him the funds for space travel.

But he insists he will not be a simple space tourist. While onboard the ISS, he will conduct scientific experiments for South African universities to help combat AIDS and other diseases.

In particular Shuttleworth plans to do research on HIV proteins.

Last year 2.3 million Africans died of HIV/AIDS. South Africa has the world's highest number of HIV-positive citizens -- around 4.7 million -- and some 70,000 babies are born with the virus every year.

While in space, Shuttleworth will also study the development of rat and ewe stem cells in microgravity.

"This isn't just about finding a way to hitch a ride to the space station. It's about taking an active part in the flight programme, in the launch, in the operation of the Soyuz... and in the scientific programmes at the space station," he said in December.

Russia's cash-strapped space agency last year began selling tickets to space for multi-millionaires who want an experience of a lifetime.

The 60-year-old Californian Dennis Tito, who made his trip last April, was the first "space tourist."

US teen pop idol Lance Bass from boys band 'N Sync is hoping to become the world's first entertainer to fly to space on a shuttle to the ISS in October.

Unlike Tito, whose presence on the ISS caused a major row with US space agency NASA, the South African will be able to walk freely around the space station, including the American segment, according to Russian officials.

After more than six months of training, Shuttleworth is ready for the mission, according to the flight commander.

"When he arrived at Star City, he did not have a clear idea what a space flight is all about. Now he is sufficiently prepared to work on the craft and carry out his scientific programme," Gidzenko said recently.

Shuttleworth and his fellow cosmonauts are due to return to Earth on the Kazakh steppe on May 5 after eight days aboard the ISS.

Their main mission is to replace another Soyuz currently attached to the orbiting space platform, part of a regular twice-annual rotation.

S.Africa Wishes First Spaceman A Good Trip
Pretoria (AFP) Apr 21, 2002 - Africa's first spaceman, Mark Shuttleworth, was Sunday wished a good trip and decent weather by South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, as the astronaut prepared to blast off next week.

"You are a very brave and gifted person who has made the whole of South Africa proud," Zuma wrote in an open letter to Shuttleworth, who has gone to the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Shuttleworth, 28, will blast off on Thursday in a Soyuz capsule heading to the International Space Station (ISS), on a 10-day mission with Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian engineer Roberto Vittori.

"I must warn you, though, that when you return we will be counting on you to share your experience... (and) assist us in encouraging South African children to be more interested in science and mathematic," Zuma told the multi-millionaire, who made his fortune as an information technology advisor.

"I hope to see you soon when you return and I hope the weather will be kind to you. Please always know that our thoughts are with you," Zuma added.

Shuttleworth, who was born in Cape Town, is paying about 20 million dollars (23 million euros) to become the second "space tourist" after 60-year-old American Dennis Tito.

Saying he was not just going for the ride, he has been given experiments to conduct by South African universities, including the growth in micro-gravity of cells taken from sheep and mice, and research into HIV proteins.

South Africa has the world's greatest number of citizens with the HIV virus that causes AIDS -- around 4.7 million -- and some 70,000 HIV-positive babies are born every year.

The US space agency NASA initially objected to Tito's trip, but there has been no such trouble between Russia and its western partners over Shuttleworth's stay on the space station.

But some South African papers have wondered whether he will really be the "first African in space", pointing out that Patrick Baudry, a Frenchman who flew on the US shuttle Discovery in 1985, was born in Cameroon.

This week's response from a firm representing Shuttleworth's interests in South Africa, Interactive Africa, was clear:

"Mark is the first person who is going up under an African flag as an African citizen and having grown up in Africa we feel well qualified that he is the first African in space."

Zuma shared this view.

"We are also proud of you because you are the first resident of the African continent to go into space," he wrote. "This is a great achievement for the continent."

S.African Space Tourist Heads To Blast-Off Site
Moscow (AFP) Apr 19, 2002 - South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth left for the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan Friday after final preparations to become the world's second space tourist, a spokesman at Moscow's Star City told AFP.

Shuttleworth, 28, will blast off on April 25 in a Soyuz capsule heading to the International Space Station (ISS) on a 10-day mission with Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian engineer Roberto Vittori.

"I decided I wanted to go into space when I was five-years-old. It's the dream of my whole life. In fact I have to keep pinching myself to be sure I'm not dreaming right now," Shuttleworth told Russia's NTV television channel before leaving Star City.

He explained, for the sake of Russian viewers, that his surname was appropriate for somebody about to undertake a space shuttle of sorts.

"I've heard several jokes about this. They've even suggested changing my name to 'Soyuzworth'," said the amateur cosmonaut, referring to the Soyuz capsule.

"But I prefer the name 'Buranov,' which was the name of the Russian version of the space shuttle," he added.

Shuttleworth and his fellow cosmonauts are due to return to Earth on the Kazakh steppe on May 5 after eight days aboard the ISS.

But Shuttleworth has said he plans to be a crew member rather than just a tourist from the start, and will carry out scientific research into HV proteins.

South Africa has the world's greatest number of citizens with the HIV virus that causes AIDS -- around 4.7 million -- and some 70,000 HIV-positive babies are born every year.

Like the first space tourist, 60-year-old American Dennis Tito, who made his trip last April, Shuttleworth is paying some 20 million dollarsmillion euros) for the experience of a lifetime.

South African Millionaire Ready For Blast-Off As Second Space Tourist
Johannesburg (AFP) Apr 18, 2002 - South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth, who is set to become the world's second space tourist, on Thursday said he was ready for his 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Shuttleworth, 28, is to blast off on April 25 in a Soyuz capsule with Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian engineer Roberto Vittori.

"I'm feeling very relaxed. We're all set to go down to Kazhakstan and prepare the rocket for launch," he told SABC radio in an interview from Moscow.

Shuttleworth said he had planned to be a crew member rather than just a tourist from the start.

"I wanted to train as a crew member, instead of just riding up there as a passenger. I wanted to do all the things space agencies do, which is run experiments and build an education campaign around the space project itself," he said.

Shuttleworth said he planned to do research on HIV proteins as part of an African focus on science.

"The Port Elizabeth University (on South Africa's southeast coast) have asked us to take some proteins of the HIV virus and cells of the human immune system to try to produce crystals in space of those proteins," he said.

"Hopefully this will help scientists to understand the role of those proteins and will help them to come up with the drugs that will interfere with HIV's attack on the human immune system," Shuttleworth said.

In 2001, 2.3 million Africans died of HIV/AIDS, said Stephen Lewis, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special representative for AIDS in Africa, while on an official visit to Ethiopia last month.

South Africa has the world's greatest number of HIV-poisitive citizens -- around 4.7 million -- and some 70,000 babies are born with the virus every year.

Shuttleworth will also study the development of rat and ewe stem cells -- cells that have the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells -- in microgravity.

Like the first space tourist, 60-year-old American Dennis Tito, who made his trip last April, Shuttleworth is paying some 20 million dollarsmillion euros) for the experience of a lifetime.

But unlike Tito, whose presence on the ISS caused a major row with US space agency NASA, the South African will be able to walk freely around the space station, including the American segment, according to Russian officials.

US teen pop idol Lance Bass from boys band 'N Sync is hoping to become the world's first entertainer to fly to space. He is looking to follow in Tito's and Shuttleworth's footsteps and visit the ISS in October.

S. African Space Tourist To Experiment With Rat And Ewe Cells
Moscow (AFP) Apr 15, 2002 - South African space tourist Mark Shuttleworth will conduct biology experiments involving rat and ewe stem cells during his stay on the International Space Station (ISS), his scientific adviser said Monday. The 28-year-old millionaire is to blast off on April 25 in a Soyuz capsule with Russian commander Yury Gidzenko and Italian engineer Roberto Vittori to spend some 10 days onboard the ISS.

While in space, Shuttleworth will study the development of rat and ewe stem cells in microgravity, Interfax news agency quoted Stellenbosch university professor Daniel Barry as saying.

In the course of the experiment, he would inject "several elements" into the cells, Barry added.

The space cells would then be frozen to be submitted to further experiments on earth once Shuttleworth returned, he went on.

Like the first space tourist, 60-year-old American Dennis Tito, who made his trip last April, Shuttleworth expects to pay 20 million dollarsmillion euros) for the experience of a lifetime.

But unlike Tito, whose presence on the ISS caused a major row with US space agency NASA, the South African will be able to walk freely around the space station, including the American segment, according to Russian officials.

US teen pop idol Lance Bass from boy band 'N Sync is hoping to become the world's first entertainer to fly to space. He is looking to follow in Tito and Shuttleworth's footsteps and visit the ISS in October.

South African Space Tourist Trains In Forest Survival
Moscow (AFP) Jan 23, 2002 - Mark Shuttleworth, the young South African millionaire who is to become the world's second space tourist, on Wednesday finished several days of survival training in a forest, space officials said. Russian RTR television broadcast images of the 28-year-old technology entrepreneur, dressed in a Russian army uniform, cutting wood and making camp fires in a forest near Moscow.

His two co-astronauts, Russian Yury Gidzenko and Italian Roberto Vittori, also took part in the exercise, officials from the Star City astronaut training centre outside Moscow told the RIA-Novosti news agency.

The objective is to teach them how to survive in case they find themselves in an uninhabited environment after an accident on landing.

Shuttleworth, who has been training at the centre for four months, is to blast off in a Russian Soyuz capsule to the International Space Station on April 20.

Like the first space tourist, 60-year-old American Dennis Tito who made his trip last April, Shuttleworth expects to pay 20 million dollars for his 10-day excursion to outer space.

All rights reserved. � 2002 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. Related Links
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