SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, announced plans for a manned flyby mission around the moon, targeting a launch in late 2018. Two private individuals have expressed interest in participating in this weeklong mission, which will not involve landing on the lunar surface. Experts express skepticism regarding the feasibility of this timeline, citing concerns about the readiness of SpaceX's crewed spacecraft and the lack of prior crewed missions beyond low-Earth orbit. While the mission is ambitious, a more realistic timeframe for execution may extend to 2019 or 2020.
PREREQUISITESAerospace engineers, space enthusiasts, and individuals interested in the future of commercial space travel will benefit from this discussion.
SpaceX, the ambitious rocket company headed by Elon Musk, http://www.spacex.com/news/2017/02/27/spacex-send-privately-crewed-dragon- spacecraft -beyond-moon-next-year and back to Earth before the end of next year. If they manage that feat, the passengers would be the first humans to venture that far into space in more than 40 years.
Mr. Musk made the announcement on Monday in a telephone news conference. He said two private individuals approached the company to see if SpaceX would be willing to send them on a weeklong cruise, which would fly past the surface of the moon — but not land — and continue outward before gravity turned the spacecraft around and brought it back to Earth for a landing.
“This would do a long loop around the moon,” Mr. Musk said. The company is aiming to launch this moon mission in late 2018.
“It strikes me as risky,” Dr. Dittmar said, adding that autonomous systems are not infallible. “I find it extraordinary that these sorts of announcements are being made when SpaceX has yet to get crew from the ground to low-Earth orbit.”