The Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will fly on the first passenger flight with his brother on the first human flight launched by his space company – Blue Origin.
“I want to go on this flight because it’s the thing I’ve wanted to do all my life,” – Mr. Bezos said.
Bezos’ brother Mark called it a “remarkable opportunity” as he will join him along with the winner of an auction being held for one of the seats. The highest bid stands at $2.8 million when Mr. Bezos announced his plan to take the flight. The auction closes on 12th June.
“I wasn’t even expecting him to say that he was going to be on the first flight. What a remarkable opportunity, not only to have this adventure but to do it with my best friend.” – Mark Bezos said in an Instagram video.
Blue Origin’s space tourism system New Shephard is a booster rocket that can land vertically on the ground after returning from space. It is named after Alan Shephard, as it has flown more than a dozen successful test flights without passengers on board.
It is designed to carry 6 people with an altitude more than 340,000 (more than 100 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. The six-berth capsule will return to earth under parachutes and has massive windows to allow passengers to experience microgravity before returning to Earth.
“To see the Earth from space, it changes you, it’s an adventure; it’s a big deal for me,” – the Amazon CEO said.