Unic Press UK: SpaceX, a renowned private company that designs and manufactures a series of advanced rockets cum spacecraft, said that in 2018 it will transport tourists around the moon on a commercial basis.
“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.” (SpaceX: 27 February 2017)
Prior to next year’s event for the paying tourists, SpaceX will be launching its “Crew Dragon (Dragon Version 2) spacecraft” to the International Space Station later this year, without any human on board. A follow-up launch carrying a crew on board will happen in the second quarter of 2018.
