MONTREAL - The founder of the Cirque du soleil may do some clowning around when he visits the International Space Station later this month -- even if his primary goal is serious.
Guy Laliberte says he'll carry an important message about conserving water and he's enlisting a variety of celebrities, from former U.S. vice-president Al Gore to pop stars Shakira and U2, to rally around his cause.
But the man behind the famous circus will find a way to temporarily transform the space station into a celestial big top. His plan involves a familiar red face ornament.
"I will probably wear my clown's nose at some moment of that (trip)," Laliberte told a news conference which was broadcast live from Moscow on the web.
The Quebec billionaire added that he plans to pack away nine bright red noses in his space luggage. They'll be shared with his fellow travellers aboard the space station. Laliberte also plans to do some juggling in the gravity-free environment.
When Canadian astronaut Julie Payette made her first trip to the space station in 1999, she brought along a clown's nose given to her by the Cirque.
"It's quite funny, after all those years, I'm bringing a clown's nose," Laliberte said. "We're building up to nine and eventually there may be a million out there!"
Set to become Canada's first space tourist -- for the hefty return-fare price of $35 million -- Laliberte shared details of his upcoming mission at a news conference Wednesday. It also happened to be his 50th birthday.
The 12-day mission will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Laliberte stressed that, clown noses aside, his main focus will be what he describes as his poetic social mission in space.
He's planning a live webcast of events in 14 cities on five continents on Oct. 9. Each event will have its own theme related to water.
Laliberte announced that a list of international personalities will take part, including Gore, several rock stars like U2, Peter Gabriel and Shakira, and Julie Payette.
"In every one of those 14 cities, there will be a place where there'll be a stage performance with a big screen and, at the same time, there will be the presentation of the poetic social mission," he said.
The live performances will take part in a theatre or at an outdoor venue, starting in Montreal and ending in Moscow. New York City, Tokyo, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Paris and London are among the other cities taking part.
Laliberte said that, for two hours, world-renowned figures will pay tribute to water.
"All these people are with me because they share the same worries we have about water," he said.
"They also share my belief that through art and emotion we can convey a universal message."
Laliberte said that, to his great surprise, most of the people approached "reacted positively" and made room on their agenda to be part of the event.
Laliberte said he has dreamed about going into space ever since the first U.S. moon landing in 1969 -- and has been ready to go, at any opportunity.
"I've always said if ever an alien space ship comes and offers me a ride I'll go on it."
