American space tourist to blast off from Baikonur in April

American billionaire Charles Simonyi is set to become the world's fifth space tourist. He has passed all the exams required and is in the final preparations of his trip.

The crew of the fifteenth mission is due to blast off on April 7 from Baikonur in Kazakhstan.

The Deputy Director of the Cosmonauts' Training Centre, Valery Korzun, said the space flight poses specific challenges – particularly with the fact there is only one experienced spaceman onboard.

He pointed out, though, the crew have successfully completed all the necessary training sessions and will be a first class space team.