[Igor Antunov]

SpaceX plans to fly two private citizens on a mission around the moon by late 2018 as part of a lunar journey that would last about a week and travel deeper into space than any human has ventured before.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk would not name the two individuals, who he said approached the company and would pay for the flight.

Rest of article: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-te ... umpr8.html

Don't know the details yet, other than the broad plan. A moon fly-by is a much simpler prospect than a lander (Space X super heavy launcher is not ready yet). I want to know how much the two billionaires paid for the vacation.

[Decky]

Whatever they pay they are getting conned. They will probably just sit in a space shuttle be pumped full of drugs and then told they had the journey. Everybody knows that there is no moon.

[SolarCross]

If they don't get conned they'll probably die in transit but it is nice to see some money being thrown at manned space flights outside of LEO. 2018 seems an impossibly close deadline.

[Igor Antunov]

For a novelty moon fly by it isn't impossible at all. It's relatively simple.

[Rugoz]

Falcon Heavy hasn't flown yet, neither has Dragon 2 let alone a BEO version of it. This will happen 2020 at the earliest, probably later.

[Pants-of-dog]

I hope Elon Musk flies rich people to the moon.

As long as he does not bring them back.

[Besoeker]

I hope Elon Musk flies rich people to the moon.

As long as he does not bring them back.

Why would you wish that?

[Pants-of-dog]

Why would you wish that?

It would be beneficial, obviously.

[Besoeker]

It would be beneficial, obviously.

Not obvious at all.
Care to eloborate?

[Pants-of-dog]

Not obvious at all.
Care to elaborate?

[Besoeker]

:eh:

Why would it be benificial?

[Igor Antunov]

Once again, they don't need a heavy launcher for a manned moon fly-by.

[SolarCross]

@Besoeker
You should understand POD hates rich people with the same creepy malevolence with which the KKK types hate black people so when he says it "would be beneficial" he means he personally would sadistically enjoy it.

[Rugoz]

Once again, they don't need a heavy launcher for a manned moon fly-by.

Falcon Heavy is a heavy launcher.

[Igor Antunov]

Well it will be ready if required.

The moon fly-by Crew Dragon capsule is here. No interior furnishings yet of course.



Generous windows for viewing.

[Besoeker]

@Besoeker
You should understand POD hates rich people with the same creepy malevolence with which the KKK types hate black people so when he says it "would be beneficial" he means he personally would sadistically enjoy it.

That would explain his attitude but not the why.

[Pants-of-dog]

That would explain his attitude but not the why.

Dark humour is like food. Not everyone gets it.

[Besoeker]

Dark humour is like food. Not everyone gets it.

Even my dog gets food and has a sense of humour. And he pants.