Charles Simonyi
FameRank: 3

"Charles Simonyi", son of Károly Simonyi, is a Hungarian-American computer software executive who, as head of Microsoft's application software group, oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office/Microsoft's flagship Office suite of applications. He now heads his own company, Intentional Software, with the aim of developing and marketing his concept of intentional programming. In April 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10, he became the fifth Space tourism/space tourist and the second Hungarian people/Hungarian in space. In March 2009, aboard Soyuz TMA-14, he made a second trip to the International Space Station. His estimated net worth is United States dollar/US$1 billion.

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I consider my future flight to be a small part of an important trend to make space accessible to more people, not just to experts. I am very much in favor of commercial space travel, which promises to advance technology just like commercial aviation did many years ago.

Like with any long-term plan, I had to make reservations. My immediate goal for the flight would be to study Russian and American engineering approaches and to learn from the experience.

Yachts are the closest a commoner can get to sovereignty.

Necessary to ensure maintenance of high quality running of the institution.

With a total endowment of $400 million, [the Institute] has worked with 21 Nobel Prize winners and practically all Fields Medals winners. Very seldom with a modest contribution can you have such a great effect on the advancement of science.