SpaceX Successfully Launches Private Tourists Into Sun

Cape Canaveral, December 12, 2020 - In a historic test flight, SpaceX today launched two private citizens on a journey into the sun. Targeting early retirement, Tom and Judy Collins paid $50 million each for seats aboard SpaceX's experimental new Starship, which is designed to carry passengers into the corona of the sun.

"We wanted to see the sun up close before we die, and SpaceX gave us that chance," said Tom Collins, 73, before boarding the Starship Atlantis. The Collins are the first private citizens to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

The launch from Kennedy Space Center was broadcast live online and watched by audiences around the world. SpaceX founder Elon Musk was on hand to see the Atlantis lift off without a hitch at 9:23am this morning.

"This proves that space tourism is no longer just science fiction," Musk said. "SpaceX is helping to make the final frontier accessible to all."

The Atlantis will accelerate continuously for three days before entering the sun's atmosphere, where passengers can observe solar prominences, sunspots, and other phenomena normally visible only to advanced space telescopes.

After 15 minutes of transmitting live footage and commentary, communications with Atlantis were lost as expected due to the intense solar radiation and plasma. The ship is not designed to return from the sun, so Atlantis will remain in solar orbit as a moribund memorial.

Relatives of Tom and Judy Collins praised them as pioneers who lived life to the fullest. A memorial service will be held for those who perished pursuing the pioneers' spirit of discovery and shared passion for space exploration. SpaceX hopes to launch additional sun-reaching missions for aspirational space tourists with deep pockets.

spacetourism #solarexploration #SpaceX