Insta
In A First, SpaceX To Send Two Paying Space Tourists ‘Beyond The Moon’ In 2018
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk unveils the Dragon V2 spacecraft in Hawthorne.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Monday revealed its plan of sending two paying space tourists on a trip around the moon next year. The mission will use the Dragon 2 spacecraft that SpaceX is developing to carry NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.
This will be the first mission of its kind because no privately funded individual in the world has visited the space beyond the orbit of the International Space Station before. Duration of the mission is expected to be around one week.
When asked about the identity of the tourists or the amount they would be spending on the trip, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk informed that the two individuals had not given his company permission to release their names. "We would expect to do more than one mission of this nature," he said, adding that it's "nobody from Hollywood."
Talking about the viability of the program, Musk said that “a market for one or two of these per year” exists as of now. Space tour fares can contribute 10 to 20 percent of the company's revenue in the future, he added.
The Dragon 2 spaceship that will take the two individuals to space is set to fly its first unmanned mission late in 2017. The Falcon Heavy rocket which Musk wants to use for the tourist mission will make a debut test flight later this year.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
