Happy birthday, space tourist Mark Shuttleworth!

Mark Shuttleworth, born September 18, 1973 in South Africa, is the first African from an independent country to travel to space. He launched aboard Soyuz TM-34 in April 2002 as a space tourist to the International Space Station, and returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-33 in May 2002, having spent almost 10 days in space.

Soyuz TM-33 launched 2001

Soyuz TM-33 crew (L-R): Konstantin Kozeyev, Viktor Afansayev, Claudie Haignere

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-33, launched October 21, 2001, carried a new crew and supplies to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Viktor Afansayev (Roscosmos), Claudie Haignere (ESA) and Konstantin Kozeyev (Roscosmos).  The crew returned to Earth on October 31 on Soyuz TM-32. 

Soyuz TM-33 returned to Earth on May 5, 2002 with Commander Yuri Gidzenko (Roscosmos), Roberto Vittori (ESA) and Mark Shuttleworth, a space tourist from South Africa.

I could not find a video of the launch.

Soyuz TM-34, with first South African in space, launched 2002

Crew (L-R): Yuri Gidzenko, Mark Shuttleworth, Roberto Vittori

Soyuz TM-34, launched April 25, 2002, was the fourth Soyuz mission to the International Space Station and carried the first South African into space.  Its crew consisted of Commander Yuri Gidzenko (Roscomos) and Roberto Vittori (European Space Agency).  Mark Shuttleworth, a space tourist from South Africa, the first from that country in space, was the second self-funded space tourist.

All three returned home on May 5 on Soyuz TM-33.