Photos: Microsoft veteran blasts into orbit

Workers inspect the protective launch shroud that covers the spacecraft. The large white wings are spoilers that would unfold in the event of an emergency, to give the shroud stability while the escape rocket fires.

Simonyi has been blogging about preparations on the website Charlesinspace.com. Of the rocket and the launch pad, he wrote this: "Unlike the space shuttle, which executes a graceful pirouette right after liftoff, the R-7 booster cannot make a turn, it can only hold a straight line and pitch over. No problem: they turn the ring (with a hand crank for fine adjustment) to the correct direction." The ring he's referring to is a large rotating section of the launch platform.

Credit: Charlesinspace.com