Canada now has its first official space tourist after billionaire Guy Laliberte agreed to pay millions to travel into space aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket this fall.

"I've been introduced as many things in the past -- fire-breather, entrepreneur, performer, partier," he said during a press conference to announce his trip.  "But today to be introduced as a private space explorer is an enviable and unbelievable feeling."

There is a "poetic social mission" he aims to promote during his time in space, but hasn't explained specific details.  Aside from knowing it's a poem aimed at surprising and entertaining listeners, Laliberte won't give away any more details until he goes into space.

He's now training at Star City, a Russian cosmonaut training center located outside of Moscow.  He is undergoing routine pre-flight training, has already passed all of his medicals, and is anxious to further his training leading up to the scheduled Sept. 30 launch date.

Laliberte, best known as the owner of Cirque du Soleil, didn't say how much he paid for the trip, but said he paid similar prices to previous space tourists.  Space tourism started for around $25 million per flight, but the price has increased as high as $35 million as of late.  Laliberte has a $2.5 billion net worth.

Tourists pay a base price of $20 million to go into space, and the additional $15 million charged is for the privilege of leaving the ISS to go on a short space walk.  Laliberte will have the option of conducting experiments while in space, but isn't sure what he wishes to work on.

To clarify a bit of confusion regarding space tourists, people paying Russia to go into space don't go aboard a private shuttle.  The federal space agency routinely launches Soyuz shuttles to the ISS to transport astronauts and supplies to and from the orbiting space post.  Space tourists fly aboard these mission flights; Laliberte will fly alongside a Russian cosmonaut and NASA astronaut.