Elon Musk Is Sending 2 Wealthy Individuals to the Moon Only 24 people have made the trip.

By Nina Zipkin

Bloomberg | Getty Images

It's been 45 years since anyone has traveled to the moon. On Dec. 7, 1972, NASA launched its final moon mission, making Apollo 17 crew members Eugene A. Cernan, Harrison H. Schmitt and Ronald E. Evans the last three members of a very select club.

But if Elon Musk has his way, that will change soon.

The SpaceX CEO announced yesterday that the company had been tapped to send two private citizens on a trip around the moon in 2018, which would bring the grand total of lunar travelers to 26.

Related: Watch Elon Musk's View of the SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Landing

There is no word yet on who the intrepid explorers will be, but we're guessing that they have pretty deep pockets, as SpaceX noted that the mystery duo has "paid a significant deposit" to make the mission possible. More information will be revealed provided the individuals pass the rigorous fitness and health tests.

SpaceX isn't doing this alone. The mission is part of its ongoing partnership with NASA

Related: SpaceX Pushes Back Mars Mission Timeline

The company recently announced that it revised its Mars mission timeline, with the first robotic mission to the red planet on track to take place in 2020 rather than 2018. Earlier this month, SpaceX also conducted a successful launch and landing of its Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral and sent a supplies delivery to the International Space Station.

The lunar travelers will be sent into space with the company's Falcon Heavy rocket, which will have its first test flight this summer. Meanwhile, SpaceX will also test the spacecraft that it hopes will carry astronauts to the ISS in 2018 later this year.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Growing a Business

Entrepreneurs Should Invest in Service, Not Just Sales — Here's How to Build a Customer-First Business

A customer-first business strategy that prioritizes exceptional service, empowers employees and leverages feedback can transform satisfied customers into loyal advocates, driving sustainable, long-term growth.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'More Soul-Crushing Than Ever': Popular Hiring Platform Finds Around 20% of Its Postings Were 'Ghost Jobs'

Is that job listing too good to be true? There's a one-in-five chance that it might be.

Growing a Business

5 Risk-Taking Lessons From Founders Who Bet Big and Won

Discover the bold moves and strategic risks that catapulted these entrepreneurs to success. Learn how their fearless decisions can inspire your own path to growth.

Business News

'Masculine Energy Is Good': Mark Zuckerberg Tells Joe Rogan He Thinks Companies Need More Aggression

On the most recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience," Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said corporate culture has become "neutered."