Richard Garriott, the Designer for the popular Ultima series, paid close to $30 million to launch into space and today, he has successfully done so. While up there, Garriott plans to do a number of "experimental tasks", such as protein crystal growth.

Mr Garriott has also said he would take photos to record how the Earth's surface has changed in the 35 years since his father's voyage.

Mr Fincke and Mr Lonchakov will replace the station's current crew - commander Sergei Volkov and flight engineer Oleg Kononenko - who are due to return home with Mr Garriott on 23 October after six months in space.

Tyranitar24 via news.bbc.co.uk »