Gates to become richest man in space?

With relative paupers taking jaunts into space at a pretty regular clip these days, it certainly would be no financial burden for the world's richest nerd to indulge his astronautical fantasies, and now a Russian cosmonaut aboard the International Space Station claims that Microsoft founder and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Bill Gates may be planning to do just that. In an interview broadcast from the ISS, Fyodor Yurchikhin repeated the assertions of current space tourist and former Gates co-worker Charles Simonyi that Mr. Microsoft himself "is also preparing to visit space," although Space Adventures -- which organizes these indulgent expeditions -- says that it has had no contact with Sir Bill so far. So in the absence of any official word from the Gates camp, we can only look to the man's personality for hints as to whether or not this fantastic voyage will take place -- and seeing how there's already been an iPod in orbit, we're pretty sure that Bill won't sleep soundly until all the world's gadget blogs and magazine covers are plastered with glossy pictures of a space Zune.

[Via Slashdot]

[WHAT? @ Apr 11th 2007 1:30PM]

Isn't it strange that just a few years after the cold war US billionaires are funding Soviet space programs?

[hresult @ Apr 11th 2007 7:30PM]

Well, my understanding that US billionaires ultimately want to survive the launch and landing. There are no alternatives in the world (Shuttle anyone? I don't think so).

[Shawn @ Apr 11th 2007 1:29PM]

Damn.. Billy looks a lil sinister in that pic.

[Richard @ Apr 11th 2007 1:48PM]

Shawn, here's one of him looking much friendlier:

http://i19.tinypic.com/42xuzk4.jpg

Sorry, I'm sure everyone has seen that already but it still amuses me the way he's all smiles while giving you the finger on the sly.

[AdAstrum @ Apr 11th 2007 1:32PM]

I think this news is blown a little out of proportion. I actually read the original news report in Russian. All it said was that while talking to Fyodor Yurchikhin, Charles Simonyi said that Bill Gates "might be also thinking about it". However when this news was translated, this already sounded like Mr. Gates is already going through preparations for the space flight.

[Todd @ Apr 11th 2007 2:01PM]

"...here's one of him looking much friendlier http://i19.tinypic.com/42xuzk4.jpg"

Here's another!

http://www.picupine.com/pics/559-1337.jpg

[Shawn @ Apr 11th 2007 5:59PM]

haha. Hilarious

[Steven @ Apr 12th 2007 12:03AM]

Eins Volk, eins Reich, eins Betriebssystem

[oshean @ Apr 11th 2007 2:18PM]

For some reason that picture reminds me of the Gary Wallace character.
"Here Wyatt, load this Microsoft disk on your Memotech MTX512!"

[narco @ Apr 11th 2007 2:27PM]

Maybe not the richest man in space, I do think there are some Goa'uld left. I'd hate to see alien technology reverse-engineered to work with the next version of Windows. Playing the game 'Snake' will definitely not be the same.

Fishes,
narco.

[Crayola @ Apr 11th 2007 2:29PM]

Woohoo! Go Bill Go! Not only did the geeks inherited earth, now they conquer space, I hope Bill demo a Vista installation for all school children in America! USA! USA! USA!

[Bill @ Apr 11th 2007 2:34PM]

GAAATES... IINNNN... SPAAAAAAACE!!!!!

[Dolomite @ Apr 11th 2007 2:38PM]

Gates is not a subject of the Queen, so he does not get the honor of using the prefix "Sir" in his name.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 11th 2007 3:13PM]

What if he were "honoured" by some King or Queen of a third world country that he donated money to...

Wouldn't that technically make him a "Sir"?

Why does the word have to revolve around "The Queen"?

[dave @ Apr 25th 2007 4:35PM]

Because he hasnt been knighted by any third world kings/queens. it was reffering to the article which said that he was sir bill (i know its a joke). im not sure if the title 'sir' can be gained from any other monarch.

[Federico D'Ambrosio @ Apr 11th 2007 2:40PM]

I don't know if Gates is "Sir" Gates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_honours_system#Honorary_awards

Citizens of countries which do not have the Queen as their head of state sometimes have honours conferred upon them, in which case the awards are "honorary". In the case of knighthoods, the holders are entitled to place initials behind their name but not style themselves "Sir".

[James @ Apr 11th 2007 3:00PM]

Would the Gates empire collapse should there be an accident while he was taking off or landing?

I'm sure all you Fan Boys wold somehow spin it so that an accident would be caused by Apple.

How much Linux software is running the ISS...? Probalby a lot! It doesn't crash.

[Ayle @ Apr 11th 2007 3:15PM]

This comment was really pointless and stupid.....

[August @ Apr 11th 2007 5:20PM]

Please try very hard not to post on Engadget ever again.

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 11th 2007 4:07PM]

I'm sure he/she is really sorry too. I'm sure if you'd provide contact information, Engadget would be happy to email you every comment so you could verify it's "stupidity factor".

[Ayle @ Apr 11th 2007 4:39PM]

[sarcasm}I'm sure they will...[/sarcasm]
But I imagined a scenario like that....

[Philster @ Apr 11th 2007 4:16PM]

Gross.

I'll bet the Soviet launch program is running on a cracked version of Windows 2000

[Homeboy @ Apr 11th 2007 9:00PM]

He's probably gonna be playing wii in zero gravity while he's up there in space.

[EDomain @ Apr 11th 2007 4:29PM]

Our grim future after Gates gets into Orbit:

Astronaut: "Um, Mr. Gates, what are you doing by that terminal?"

Gates: "Nuthin'"

Gates hits "Enter"-- lights flicker in ISS.

Astronaut: "What did you just do?"

Gates: "Welcome to the Social!" (emits high pitched, evil squeal)

Computer terminal reads "Microsoft Windows" and the blue bar scrolls back and forth. Suddenly, blue screen of death appears.

Astronaut: "Oh Dear God.... life support is offline!"

Gates: "Just install Service Pack 2!" (continues squealing in rapture. "Windows is the first galactic OS! EHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHE!"

Astronaut shoves Gates out of way, gates floats to his bag and injects a syringe into his neck. His voice gets very... deep.

"Gates Cybernetic enhancemenmts online. Systems check..."

his head cocks at a curious angle., then stragihtens as his eyes glow an evil shade of red.

"evaluation of humanity complete. danger to project. Eliminate and enslave. End of line"

[Caboose @ Apr 11th 2007 5:28PM]

That is by far the nerdiest comment I have ever read on any blog ever.

[LongshotX @ Apr 11th 2007 8:58PM]

You guys really exaggerate on this BSOD bullshit. I haven't had one on XP and Vista in nearly 6 years (Well XP since it came out, using Vista Ultimate with zero problems).

[ItGuy @ Apr 11th 2007 4:33PM]

If only he could ride up on the Challenger....

[Chris @ Oct 18th 2007 9:35AM]

I don't know what software they have in the ISS, but whatever it is, I am sure it is pirated.

[Tom @ Apr 11th 2007 5:17PM]

Mark Shuttleworth got there first!

[evilmonkey @ Jun 14th 2007 12:23PM]

No, It was Dennis Tito

[EDomain @ Apr 11th 2007 5:31PM]

I'm sorry, did you think this was www.hipperthanthou.com?

Vive La Engadget Baby!!

[LongshotX @ Apr 11th 2007 9:01PM]

And the only reason you guys hate on Bill is because he making serious money and you guys aren't...Haters. Why aren't you guys talking about how much money he is donating to charity? Because you want to spend all fucking day talking about BSODs, how crappy Windows is, and how Bill and anything touched by Bill sucks. Stupid!

[Z @ Apr 11th 2007 9:40PM]

Caption for photo above:

"This disc is loaded with p0rn."

[Russ @ Apr 11th 2007 10:15PM]

I wonder what this'll do to the MSFT stock price...

[Steven @ Apr 12th 2007 12:08AM]

http://i19.tinypic.com/42xuzk4.jpg
the caption on the photo should be
Eins Volk, eins Reich, eins Betriebssystem