Space trip with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sells for £ 19.8million at auction
A trip to space with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sold for $ 28million (£ 19.8million) at auction.
© Reuters
The auction ended with a bid of $ 28million (£ 19.9million)
The anonymous bidder will be able to fly with Mr. Bezos and his younger brother Mark on the maiden voyage of his rocket company Blue Origin next month.
© Associated Press
This is what the Blue Origin capsule will look like in space. Photo: AP
Their identity will be revealed in the coming weeks before takeoff in the West. Texas July 20 – the 52nd anniversary of the moon landings.
This will be the first time Mr. Bezos’ New Shepard capsule has had people on board and will mark the launch of his space tourism business.
The 15 test flights since the start of the project in 2015 have been successful.
Video: Jeff Bezos to fly to space next month (TODAY)
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More than 7,500 people from 159 countries registered to bid at the online auction, of which 20 qualified for the final round on Saturday.
Offers quickly increased after Mr Bezos announced Monday that he and his brother would be aboard the inaugural 11-minute flight.
The money from the offering will go to Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, which promotes science and technology to young people, a company spokesperson said.
© Associated Press
The New Shepard capsule is seen using parachutes to land during a test in Texas in April. Photo: AP
It’s unclear when Blue Origin will be open to commercial ventures, but ticket sales and price lists are expected to be available soon.
Mr Bezos set to beat rival Richard Branson and his space company Galactic Virgo by being the first person to make space travel accessible to the public.
© Reuters
Jeff Bezos and his younger brother Mark will be aboard the maiden voyage
