Billionaire Laliberte set to become Canada's first space tourist

Toronto: Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte is set to become Canada's first space tourist when he travels on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in September.

Chantal Ctti, a spokeswoman for the circus troupe, confirmed the trip and said further details will be provided on Thursday.

The 49-year-old Laliberte is in Moscow for Thursday's official announcement, which will be made simultaneously at the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal.

The Quebec billionaire will become the seventh private citizen to visit the orbiting space lab since April 2001.

Past visits by paying space tourists have lasted anywhere from a week to 13 days.

Laliberte will become the third Canadian to visit the International Space Station this year. One astronaut is there now and another is expected shortly.