Holiday in space

South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth is preparing to blasts off into space this morning.

The 28 year old is reported to have paid £14m for the trip.

Click here to watch watch Caroline Wyatt's report

And, according to the world's first ever space tourist, one thing he can expect for his money is a good night's sleep.

Click here for the Dennis Tito interview

Denis Tito, who paid for his own trip on a Russian rocket a few years ago, told Breakfast it was well worth the money.

"It was one of the greatest things of my life, " he said.

"He'll see a beautiful earth.

"You don't realise what a wonderful planet we have until you look back at it from the darkness of space and see the texture of clouds and the atmosphere we live in, " he told Breakast.

Strangely, one of the things Tito enjoyed most about being in space was getting a decent night's sleep.

"It's very comfortable," Tito told Breakfast this morning. "I slept for a whole eight hours at a stretch, not something I would normally do."

Each of us has a dream, a desire, something we want to fulfil in life

Mark Shuttleworth

Mark Shuttleworth has spent nine months in Russia training for his space adventure. He lived in cramped conditions, sharing recycled air and water.

He also spent five days at the US space agency's (Nasa) Johnson space center.

Mr Shuttleworth made his fortune as an internet entrepreneur. He set up a security business at the age of 22 from his parent's garage in Cape Town. He sold the company four years later for $400m (£280m).

Learning Russian

Mr Shuttleworth is using the money to fulfil the dream of becoming the first African in space. He was inspired by Dennis Tito's trip last April.

But he has faced criticism at home for spending so much money on a personal adventure.

He has deflected anger by launching a schools campaign to promote science and maths.

Shuttleworth has been learning Russian

His education foundation, The Shuttleworth Foundation, is creating software to help schools in developing countries.

Dreaming of space

Mr Shuttleworth says he is learning Russian and can follow 70% of the cockpit conversation between mission commander Yuri Gidzenko and the ground crew.

He also plans to carry out Aids research in space.

"Each of us has a dream, a desire, something we want to fulfil in life," Mr Shuttleworth, clad in a blue jumpsuit adorned with the South African flag, said during a pre-flight media conference.

"I had always hoped and believed that I would fly into space but I had always thought I would have to wait until the day when I could fly as a passenger.

"I believe we are just scratching the surface of space - in the next few years we will not only explore it more deeply, but make the cosmos more accessible."