Written by By Bee Shan Li, CNN
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has launched himself into space aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. He will travel some 30 miles above the planet with a supply of supplies, on a mission to the International Space Station.
The website of Maezawa, who is reportedly worth $5 billion, says the “upcoming journey will be the first in a series that will see him traveling to other heavenly bodies.”
Space tourism is still a novel idea, but Maezawa is the latest in a line of people who are taking the plunge. Richard Branson is planning to launch the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo, the only vehicle built so far to take tourists around Earth’s orbit, in 2018. And Chinese billionaire Jack Ma launched a space travel company called Antisatrial, earlier this year.
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is launching himself into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Credit: David McNew/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Maezawa posted a series of pictures to Instagram. But for those interested in the view below, the view below is courtesy of TV Japanese TV network NHK. In November, Maezawa announced plans to travel into space. Credit: TV Japanese TV Network
Yusaku Maezawa, who is apparently worth $5 billion , is married with two children and builds and curates artwork.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Credit: Scott Audette/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Yusaku Maezawa (left) posted this photograph to Instagram of a small group of people whom he chose to accompany him to space. Credit: private collection/Instagram
Carrying three science experiments, Maezawa will be collecting his scientific results after the trip back to Earth. Credit: Island Collection/Stitch I. Renderer
Japanese artist and investor Yusaku Maezawa, 45, is set to become the first private citizen to visit the International Space Station on a spacecraft built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Credit: private collection/Instagram