Engineers have hoisted a rocket bound for the international space station onto its launch pad at Baikonur in Kazakhstan, Associated Press reported. The Russian-built Soyuz capsule and rockets were transported by rail across frigid Central Asian plains to the launch site Tuesday. Russian commander Gennady Padalka, U.S. flight engineer Michael Barratt, and U.S. businessman and space tourist Charles Simonyi will blast off Thursday. As tradition dictates, they will not attend the ceremonial installation. Simonyi will become the world's first two-time space tourist. The 60-year-old, who first flew in April 2007, will spend 13 days in space _ and may be the last private traveler allowed by the Russians to travel to the space station.
