SpaceX, the space technologies and exploration firm founded by billionaire Elon Musk, plans to fly a pair of civilians about the moon and back to Earth in 2018, the enterprise announced Monday.
According to Musk, SpaceX was approached by the two folks who expressed interest in the mission, which is anticipated to skim the moon and carry them into deep space on the company's Dragon Capsule and Falcon Heavy rocket just after launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A press release from SpaceX noted that the pair "have currently paid a substantial deposit to do a moon mission." Musk declined to reveal the clients' identities. The company said that additional details about the group will be released following approval, well being and fitness tests.
SpaceX is preparing to send an unmanned Dragon craft to the International Space Station later in the year just before launching a manned mission in 2018. The corporation has contracted by NASA to continue missions to the space station at a price of 4 per year.
The trip around the moon is scheduled to take location immediately after SpaceX has completed profitable manned missions for NASA.
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ABC's Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.
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