A private journey aboard SpaceX's Starship rocket was purchased by businessman Dennis Tito and his wife, Akiko. This is the third spaceflight that Elon Musk's company has revealed thus far.
Tito, who is 82 years old and is well-known for being the first private space tourist after traveling to the International Space Station in 2001 with Russia, purchased two seats on a SpaceX mission that would send a Starship on a week-long journey to and from the moon.
CNBC said Akiko, a 57-year-old pilot, and real estate mogul, married Dennis Tito in 2020. They are anticipated to travel around the moon for the first time as a married couple.
SpaceX's Second Private Starship Trip Around the Moon to Help Make Humanity 'Multiplanetary'
The ultimate objective of SpaceX is to create a multi-planet future where people may live on Mars and perhaps much beyond into the solar system.
The corporation may test the technologies they believe will be essential to building that future through these private missions.
Aarti Matthews, director of Starship cargo and crew projects at SpaceX, said during a conference call with media (via Space.com): "This mission is a notable step towards that, where, instead of buying a whole mission, you can now buy a single seat."
The Titos acknowledge this possibility and express excitement and honor at the opportunity to usher in a new age of spaceflight.
According to Dennis Tito, the Starship program has the potential to rank among the most significant achievements in the six million years of human existence.
Voice of America noted that Tito is the second billionaire to reserve a Starship for a trip around the moon. Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese fashion mogul, declared in 2018 that he was purchasing a whole airplane to bring about eight other people-preferably artists-with him. Despite being 20 years apart, the two men used Russian rockets to go from Kazakhstan to the space station.
SpaceX's first orbital Starship SN20 is stacked atop its massive Super Heavy Booster 4 at the company's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas on February 10, 2022.
Private Starship Trip Around The Moon Won't Happen Again For Years
Tito's aim won't happen again for years, Axios noted. It will take off after the dearMoon mission to circle the Moon and the Polaris voyage, which is anticipated to be the first crewed Starship launch.
"[Over] a week, Starship and the crew will travel to the Moon, fly within 200 km of the Moon's surface, and complete a full journey around the Moon before safely returning to Earth," SpaceX said.
The cost of the expedition has not been disclosed by the Titos.
What to look for: While Starship has not yet made it into orbit, SpaceX is anticipated to launch its first orbital voyage from Texas sometime in the upcoming months.
The business will start unmanned flights to test the technology before boarding passengers.
RELATED ARTICLE: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Reveals New Schedule for First Starship Orbital Flight, Remains Firm On Multiplanetary Plans
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