SpaceX Lock‑picks a Moon‑Tourist—Rocket‑Powered Holiday in Orbit
In a headline‑making move, SpaceX on Thursday teased a brand‑new plan to send a person on a moon‑loop adventure aboard its behemoth, the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR). This colossal launch machine is aimed at ferrying folks out past the edge of the solar system, and now it’s adding a little “fun” to its lineup.
First‑hand “Private Passenger” News
“SpaceX has signed the world’s first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle — an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of travelling to space,” the company read on Twitter (no need for hyperlinks, we’re just summarizing).
More details are slated to drop on Monday, so keep your eyes peeled. The company prefers to stay tight‑lipped about the juicy bits—who it is, how much they’ll be shelling out, and the exact itinerary. As if that’s not enough anticipation for a space travel craze!
Remember the Old Plan?
SpaceX hasn’t been shy before. Back in February 2017, the California tech titan promised the first two space‑tourists would float around the Moon by late 2018. Those glimmering folks were supposed to hop aboard a Dragon crew craft—think cargo flight but crew‑friendly—and launch off in a Falcon Heavy rocket.
Fast‑forward to now: it appears that original itinerary has been on mute. Names, payment details, and even confirmation of whether anyone is actually booking a spot remain hush‑hush. SpaceX declined to comment on an AFP query, but pledged more info at Monday’s scheduled event (5:30‑7:00 pm local, 00:30‑02:00 GMT).
Moon Footprints Re‑visited
Since the legendary Apollo 17 expedition in 1972, humanity hasn’t set foot on the Moon again. Back then, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the pioneers in 1969, with Armstrong famously declaring, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Those words echo in our collective memory and, unsurprisingly, stock up on the hype in any new space‑adventure announcement.
Only 24 people have ever walked on the barren lunar plains. However, the U.S. had been vigorously pushing for a fresh moon mission under President Donald Trump, backed by NASA’s lunar gateway ambitions—an orbital staging area that could open the door to deeper space, like asteroids or Mars. SpaceX shares NASA’s vision, partnering on crew and cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS).
Space X: Not Just a Rocket Company
Washington’s flagship agency has a $1.6 billion contract with SpaceX. The firm regularly sends its Dragon spacecraft, strapped onto a Falcon 9, to ferry astronauts stationed at the ISS. NASA’s crew‑space shuttle regained the life support lifeline after the end of the 30‑year shuttle program in 2011.
Boeing isn’t sitting on the sidelines either, running its own crew vehicle with some type‑of maiden flight slated for 2019.
The BFR itself is the latest marvel: a 31‑engine juggernaut capable of hauling 150 tons into orbit. Elon Musk, the trail‑blazer behind SpaceX and Tesla, had hinted in an Aussie speech that BFR could launch, land, and even ferry two cargo ships to Mars by 2022. He confessed, “I feel fairly confident that we can complete the ship and launch in about five years.”
So, What’s Next?
Moon‑tourists? Check. Space‑travel democratization? One step closer. If Monday’s reveal is as bold as the plan itself, we’re all heading for a future where a “walk on the Moon” may be as standard as a weekend getaway—minus the need for a spacesuit, unless you fancy a solar flare.
Stay tuned; SpaceX has a way of keeping the universe—and its audience—on the edge of their seat.
