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BAIKONUR, KAZAKHSTAN — A Russian rocket carrying Charles Simonyi, an American billionaire who helped develop Microsoft Word, roared into the skies over Kazakhstan on Saturday night, sending him and two cosmonauts into orbit on a two-day journey to the International Space Station.

The Soyuz TMA-10 capsule, trailing a column of smoke and fire, cast an orange glow over the Baikonur cosmodrome and dozens of officials and well-wishers watching from about a mile away.

Among them was Martha Stewart, who watched the launch from a location separate from other spectators. Stewart, who has been linked romantically to Simonyi, shared a private moment with him Friday — though only through a plate glass window, to protect him and his crewmates from germs.

"He's in excellent spirits," Stewart said. "He's very fit and very well-trained."

Simonyi, 58, a native of Hungary, paid $25 million for the 13-day trip, making him the fifth space tourist.

In a posting on the blog he intends to maintain while in orbit (www.charlesinspace.com), Simonyi said he spent his final day getting a haircut and a therapeutic massage and watched a classic Soviet-era war film, a cosmonaut tradition.

Simonyi is taking a special meal for his comrades in space to be eaten Thursday in honor of Cosmonauts' Day, which marks Yuri Gagarin's historic flight in 1961. The menu includes quail, duck and rice pudding.

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