Two paying customers will travel to the "deep space" beyond the Moon. SpaceX will use the Falcon Heavy to deliver an automated Crew Dragon capsule carrying the unnamed customers next year. Falcon Heavy has not flown yet, and is expected to be tested this summer. NASA will use the Crew Dragon capsule to send astronauts to the International Space Station in 2018, after an unmanned test this year.
SpaceX will not reveal the identities of the participants until they complete health and fitness tests:
We are excited to announce that SpaceX has been approached to fly two private citizens on a trip around the moon late next year. They have already paid a significant deposit to do a moon mission. Like the Apollo astronauts before them, these individuals will travel into space carrying the hopes and dreams of all humankind, driven by the universal human spirit of exploration. We expect to conduct health and fitness tests, as well as begin initial training later this year. Other flight teams have also expressed strong interest and we expect more to follow. Additional information will be released about the flight teams, contingent upon their approval and confirmation of the health and fitness test results.
(Score: 4, Funny) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Tuesday February 28 2017, @09:32AM (3 children)
carrying the unnamed customers next year
Please let it be Trump and Bannon, please let it be Trump and Bannon...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 28 2017, @10:30AM (1 child)
Please let it be Hillary and Bill... and Nancy and Chuck...
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday February 28 2017, @11:25AM
I figure it's Bill wanting to join the miles high club with Ivanka :)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by CoolHand on Tuesday February 28 2017, @01:01PM
Think we can sneak Sessions onboard too? Maybe that would help destabilize the craft, yeah?
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams