The privately owned SpaceX will be launching itself to the Moon with two passengers late next year. Though President Trump wants to do the same, NASA's plan with Space Launch System (SLS) mega rocket will happen in 2021.
The SpaceX will be bringing two private passengers to the moon and back with their Dragon spacecraft using Falcon Heavy rocket. Yesterday, SpaceX Elon Musk has announced through telecom that their company will be launching an autopilot Dragon spacecraft to the moon, BBC reported. The two passengers who paid tons of money to the company do not want to be named. They will be taught the things they need to know while in space. Though it will be nothing like riding a plane, SpaceX has explained everything to their wealthy first passengers.
If SpaceX will really push through with their 2018 launch plan, they will go before NASA. NASA will study all of the safety requirements and other risks before SpaceX can launch their Dragon spacecraft. Also, it will help NASA change whatever will go wrong with SpaceX's mission. Meanwhile, NASA's mission to have a manned Orion spacecraft to the moon is still not sure. NASA is planning it to happen in 2021 after learning that it is impossible to do in 2019, Space stated.
"I could imagine that if this independent entrepreneur has done it, and successfully identified the risk factors, it would be real information, not speculation," Scott Hubbard, a researcher in the Stanford University Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, stated. "Others might then ask about [the] need for SLS and Orion - but two suppliers are always better from a competition/cost POV," he added.
SpaceX goal is doable, Hubbard said. However, the technical issues might hinder it for a bit. Supporting the life of the two passengers will be very hard. Supplying oxygen and other basic needs of the two private people should be studied carefully for it to be successful, Hubbard explained.
He knows these things because he is the current chairperson of SpaceX's independent Safety Advisory Panel for Commercial Crew. It manages the design and risks of programs that carries astronauts to the International Space Station.
