Oliver Damon, youngest astronaut in history, $28 million
A young man at the age of eighteen will become the youngest astronaut in history when he participates on July 20 with billionaire Jeff Bezos in the first flight of the "Blue Origin" spacecraft, the company announced.
Oliver Damon, who finished high school in 2020, holds a private pilot's license, and is the first passenger on a "Blue Origin" flight who paid for his ticket, but he is not the winner of the $28 million auction for a seat in the vehicle, and the company reported that this passenger requested anonymity. He will travel on a future mission.
The announcement marks the "beginning of commercial operations" for Blue Origin's New Shepherd vehicle, according to company president Bob Smith.
"Oliver represents a new generation of people who will help build a path to space," he said.
Participation in the "New Shepherd" trip will allow Oliver Damon to realize his life's dream, as he has been fascinated by space, the moon and missiles since he was four years old, according to a statement.
Oliver plans to study Physics and Innovation Management at Utrecht University in the Netherlands from September.
The company did not indicate the nationality of the young man, but his public account on "Instagram" contains comments written mostly in Dutch.
Oliver will join the other passengers on the New Shepard's first manned flight, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark, and the soon-to-be-older Wally Funk.
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