Space X plans to send two non-NASA personnel up in space for a trip around the moon. The two private, paying individuals just received a green flag from Elon Musk himself. Exactly how much did they pay Space X and Musk for this is astounding.
Space X CEO Elon Musk didn't exactly reveal how much the two private citizens paid for this trip. But according to him, it's comparable or slightly above the crewed mission to the ISS, The Verge reported. A ticket to the rocket used for ISS costs around $80 million.
According to the Space X CEO, this will serve as an opportunity for mankind to return to the deep space once again after 45 years, BBC reported. He also said that the passengers will be travelling faster than any before them. Space X cooperates with NASA to make the plan possible.
With the amount of money that the individuals are paying, Musk believes it will drive the revenue of Space X up by 10 to 20 percent. The CEO is already planning to accommodate space trips like this one at least two times a year.
The two persons going on the private trip, whose names were undisclosed, will begin their space training this year. Space X will conduct several health and fitness tests to make the private passengers fit for outer space. They've already paid the initial deposits for the trip and according to the reports they're very serious about the ordeal.
Elon Musk said the passengers are very much aware of the risks. While it's Space X's job to minimize the risks, the CEO admits it won't reach the level of zero because anything can go wrong in outer space.
Musk also said that the trip around the moon will take about a week. The citizens will skim around the moon, go further deep in space, and will loop back to our planet; the distance being 300,000 to 400,000 miles. The private citizens will board on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will go with a rocket named Falcon Heavy, which is due to launch summer 2018.
The mission does not involve a lunar landing. The US has not sent any man on the Moon since 1970's. But Elon Musk says if NASA wants to participate, their agency will be accommodated as well.
