The space exploration technology company SpaceX has announced that in 2018 it will take two private customers for tourism around the Moon. If this project is finalized, it will be the first time a private trip to the Moon is conducted. Moreover, it will be the first human journey to such a distant path in space in the past five decades. Elon Musk, one of the founders of SpaceX, stated, "This is incredibly exciting." On March 1, Mr. Musk announced the imminent space journey of his company in the presence of reporters, saying, "No! They are not Hollywood people," referring to the tourists who are set to orbit the Moon. He did not provide many details about these two unknown private customers but emphasized that they have paid a "significant" deposit for their trip. Elon Musk tweeted, referencing the famous song "Fly Me to the Moon," saying: "Okay!" The first space tourist was American billionaire Dennis Tito, who paid $20 million and went to the International Space Station for eight days in 2001. The last time humans went to the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Eugene Cernan, the American astronaut, was the last human to walk on the Moon and passed away at the age of 82 a month and a half ago. The Gemini and Apollo space projects of the last century were carried out amid the intense space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the six missions conducted—from Neil Armstrong to Eugene Cernan—12 people walked on the Moon, becoming the first humans to set foot on a celestial body other than Earth. However, SpaceX's spacecraft is not intended to land on the Moon's surface, so next year's tourists will only be able to look out the window and "imagine" walking on the Moon. Their spacecraft is set to orbit the Moon, which will provide ample time to view the Earth's moon. The space journey next year is planned to take place from the same location where SpaceX is currently constructing projects for NASA, which are intended to replace the use of Russian spacecraft.
SpaceX to Take Two Space Tourists Around the Moon Next Year
SpaceX has announced plans to take two private tourists around the Moon in 2018, marking the first private lunar trip and the first human journey to such a distant location in space in five decades. Elon Musk emphasized the excitement of this venture, although the tourists' identities remain undisclosed. This project signifies a new era in space tourism and exploration.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
SpaceX announced plans to take two private tourists around the Moon in 2018, marking a significant milestone in space tourism and the first human journey to such a distant location in five decades.
- This will be the first private trip to the Moon.
- The last human journey to the Moon occurred during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Space tourism is an emerging industry, with SpaceX at the forefront, following historical missions conducted during the Cold War space race.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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