Jeff Bezos’ first trip to space will now include both the youngest and oldest people ever to take flight.
The Amazon founder’s aerospace company, Blue Origin, announced Thursday that 18-year-old Oliver Daemen will fly aboard the vessel New Shepard on its first human space flight, scheduled for July 20.
The winner of the auction for a seat aboard New Shepard has decided to postpone his trip to space next week because of scheduling conflicts, Blue Origin said. The bidder, who has asked to remain anonymous, will fly on a future New Shepard mission, the company said.
Last month, Blue Origin announced the bidder won a flight aboard New Shepard, which will also carry Bezos and his brother, Mark, for $28 million. The proceeds from the auction go toward the foundation Club for the Future, which is aimed at inspiring future generations to pursue careers in STEM.
“We thank the auction winner for their generous support of Club for the Future and are honored to welcome Oliver to fly with us on New Shepard,” Bob Smith, CEO of Blue Origin, said in a statement Thursday.
Also joining the flight is 82-year-old Wally Funk, a female aviator who pushed for inclusion in NASA’s astronaut training program.
July 20 will be the 52nd anniversary of the 1969 Apollo moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration granted approval for the flight.
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