In a recent turn of events, yet another billionaire has embarked on a journey into outer space. Just two weeks after stepping down from his position at Amazon, Jeff Bezos is now taking a casual trip beyond our atmosphere aboard a spacecraft developed by his own company, funded with his Amazon fortune. What’s even more astonishing is that he is the second billionaire to do so in a mere week, following Richard Branson’s launch on July 11.
Both Bezos and Branson have invested in suborbital flights, which elevate passengers around 50-60 miles above Earth before returning to the surface, stopping short of orbiting. On this morning’s flight, Bezos is accompanied by his brother, Mark, 50; 82-year-old Mary Wallace Funk, an astronaut hopeful from the 1960s who never had the chance to fly; and Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old student from the Netherlands whose ticket was purchased in an auction (the auction winner reportedly paid $28 million, with Daemen being the runner-up).
The financial specifics behind these billionaire spaceflights remain undisclosed, but it’s worth noting that humans have been sent on suborbital journeys by both the Russian and U.S. governments since 1961—60 years ago—during a time when the idea of a single individual having enough wealth to replicate NASA’s achievements seemed outlandish. Yet, here we are in 2021.
Bezos has accumulated his vast fortune despite ongoing criticism regarding low wages and challenging working conditions at Amazon warehouses, a situation exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic when employees reported a rapid spread of the virus. They had requested PPE, which Amazon allegedly did not provide.
However, Bezos believes his space endeavors serve a philanthropic purpose. He envisions a future where the solar system can sustain a trillion individuals, suggesting that such a population would yield countless geniuses and virtually limitless resources. “The solar system can easily support a trillion humans,” he shared in a recent interview, expressing a desire for a future where his descendants thrive.
Naturally, social media users had plenty to say about this latest billionaire space venture. After a brief 15-minute flight, Bezos and his crew landed safely back on Earth.
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Summary:
Jeff Bezos recently journeyed to space, becoming the second billionaire to do so in a week, following Richard Branson. Both men have invested in suborbital flights, which ascend but do not orbit the Earth. This trend raises discussions about wealth, philanthropy, and human potential in space exploration.