Persian businesswoman Anousheh Ansari, co-founder and Chairman of Prodea Systems, is set to be the first female commercial space tourist, taking off on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft launching Monday, September 18th.

She plans to blog and podcast from space at a site hosted by Los Angeles-based X PRIZE Foundation.

“Over the next few days before my launch, I will share with you my feelings and sentiments as I approach the Launch day, some details about my flight and the ceremonies and training I‚Äôm receiving,” notes Anousheh. “I look forward to sharing the next few weeks of my life with each and every one of you‚Ķ”

According to Anousheh, she will fulfill her dream when she joins the Expedition 14 crew aboard the Soyuz TMA-9, as it blasts off from Kazakhstan on an exciting journey to the International Space Station. Her main objective for this mission is to become a Space Ambassador, and help to bring the space travel experience to others:

• As a Space Ambassador, act as a messenger to create public awareness and stimulate grassroots enthusiasm about the virtues of space exploration;
• To inspire youth, and especially girls, around the world to pursue their dreams; and,
• To promote peace and understanding amongst nations as the world‚Äôs first Space Ambassador.

The X PRIZE Foundation will host interviews, podcasts, and video with Ansari. Ansari, along with brother in law Amir Ansari, funded the Ansari X PRIZE, which was awarded to Burt Rutan in 2004 for the first commercial launch of a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.

The X PRIZE Foundation manages a number of prizes in the space, health, energy, transportaiton, and education fields. Ansari is set to blast off from Kazakhstan on September 18th for the 10 day space trip.

Anousheh and her family are sponsors of the Ansari X PRIZE.