Richard Branson says he’s months away from becoming an astronaut, as his space race with Jeff Bezos suddenly heats up
Both Branson and Bezos’ respective companies, Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, have completed successful test flights in recent weeks
By Jake Kanter
In the billionaire space race, Richard Branson reckons he’s level with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. That’s what the British entrepreneur told the BBC this week, raising hopes that space tourism will become a reality very soon.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Branson said of Bezos: “I think we’re both neck and neck as to who will put people into space first. We’re talking about months away, not years away — so it’s close.”
Branson added that he hopes to become an astronaut within 12 months with Virgin Galactic, and he is already preparing for his experience, including gruelling centrifuge training.
Bezos, meanwhile, hopes his company Blue Origin can start offering suborbital space tourism flights by 2019. And in the same week Branson made his comments, he said the space company is “the most important work I am doing.”
But is it all billionaire bravado?
But while Branson said the imminent prospect of space travel is “exciting,” there are reasons to treat his claim with a grain of salt. The billionaire has consistently teased the idea that space tourism is just around the corner, and is yet to deliver on his previous promises.