Geldof set to be first Irish man in space

Bob Geldof is going into space as a passenger on a commercial flight.

The singer was offered the trip after his band, the Boomtown Rats, agreed to play a concert at a charity ball at the Natural History Museum, London, where seats on the flight will be auctioned off for good causes.

He said: “Being the first Irishman in space is not only a fantastic honour but pretty mind-blowing...The First Rock Astronaut – Space Rat! Elvis may have left the building but Bob Geldof will have left the planet! Wild!

“Who would have thought it possible in my lifetime? I will be joined by a couple of fellow astronauts who will bid to participate in this extraordinary adventure on this amazing night.”

Geldof will be undertaking his first step of training in the space flight simulator based in Holland this coming weekend.

The flights, which are scheduled for 2015, will be auctioned at the high-society event next month along with a diamond-encrusted watch and a car ride with former Formula One drivers.