This photo provided by SpaceX photo shows Dennis Tito and his wife, Akiko, at the company’s Starship … [+]
If you’re familiar with the history of space exploration, you might recognize the name Dennis Tito. In 2001, Tito became the first “space tourist” when he purchased an 8-day trip to the International Space Station as part of the ISS EP-1 for a cool $20 million price tag.
In the 20 years since, space tourism has slowly become a reality that might someday be accessible for more than the ultra-wealthy; today companies like Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and Space Perspectives offer unique ways to reach the edge of space in the six-figure – rather than seven-figure – price range.
But Tito’s not done visiting space, as the world’s first space tourist is planning a return trip. Yesterday, SpaceX announced they had sold tickets to Dennis and his wife Akiko Tito aboard the second crewed Starship mission to orbit the moon, which will likely occur sometime in the latter half of the 2020s or early 2030s. This of course depends on the success of missions between now and then including the first lunar mission with billionaire Yusaku Maezawa who spent his own 12-days aboard the ISS.
TOPSHOT – Billionaire entrepreneur and founder of SpaceX Elon Musk speaks below a computer generated … [+]
Tito is 82 years old today, so undoubtedly keen for SpaceX to continue their relentless march toward Mars. While he didn’t express a desire to return to space following his first flight, he told reporters including one from SpaceNews, “over time, watching the developments of SpaceX and just what they were doing fascinated me.”
SpaceX continues to fascinate many, and these lunar missions will undoubtedly draw global attention – especially with now well-known space tourists aboard.
