Three of the founders of America’s top private space companies have stated their personal desire to fly into space. But only one will be first. Jeff Bezos is head of the rocket company Blue Origin. He also founded the online store Amazon. Bezos has announced plans to make his wish come true next month on the company’s first human space flight. If successful, the 57-year-old would become the first person to ride his own company’s rocket into space. Two other founders -- Elon Musk of SpaceX and Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic -- have said they also want to ride into space on a company-built spaceship. Ever since I was five years old, I've dreamed of traveling to space,” Bezos said in a message announcing his plans on Instagram. He said he would be making the trip with his brother, Mark. “On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend,” Bezos said. Joining the brothers will be at least one other passenger who is being chosen by an online auction. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and capsule can carry up to six people. The spacecraft will take its passengers on a 10-minute flight to about 105 kilometers above Earth. That distance is a common international definition for the beginning of space, also known as the “Karman line.” The passengers are expected to spend about four minutes in this suborbital space, where they can experience weightlessness and observe the curvature of Earth. The rocket will take off from Blue Origin’s launch center in a rural area of West Texas. After the capsule separates, the reusable rocket is designed to return to Earth and land in an upright position by itself. The capsule is designed to float back to the surface with three large parachutes. Blue Origin said it has carried out 15 successful test flights of New Shepard, but none of those carried humans. The spacecraft is named after NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space. The planned launch date is July 20. The date was chosen because it is the 52nd anniversary of the first moon landing by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Bezos has said he will step down as Amazon’s chief 15 days before the launch. Earlier, he announced that he wanted to spend more time on projects for Blue Origin. On its website, the company says its goal is to develop reusable launch vehicles for civilian and defense purposes. The Bezos flight will officially launch the company's space tourism business. The company has yet to start selling seats to the public or announce prices for the short trips.
Title: Billionaire Race: Bezos Aims to Be First to Visit Space
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/A.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Billionaire Race: Bezos Aims to Be First to Visit Space' data-article-id='5692'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='10729'>Three of the founders of America’s top private space companies have stated their personal desire to fly into space.</span> <span data-start-time='10729' data-end-time='14688'>But only one will be first.</span> <span data-start-time='14688' data-end-time='20250'>Jeff Bezos is head of the rocket company Blue Origin. </span> <span data-start-time='20250' data-end-time='25146'>He also founded the online store Amazon. </span> <span data-start-time='25146' data-end-time='35354'>Bezos has announced plans to make his wish come true next month on the company’s first human space flight. </span> <span data-start-time='35354' data-end-time='45958'>If successful, the 57-year-old would become the first person to ride his own company’s rocket into space.</span> <span data-start-time='45958' data-end-time='61333'>Two other founders -- Elon Musk of SpaceX and Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic -- have said they also want to ride into space on a company-built spaceship.</span> <span data-start-time='61333' data-end-time='74104'>Ever since I was five years old, I've dreamed of traveling to space,” Bezos said in a message announcing his plans on Instagram. </span> <span data-start-time='74104' data-end-time='79271'>He said he would be making the trip with his brother, Mark. </span> <span data-start-time='79271' data-end-time='84729'>“On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. </span> <span data-start-time='84729' data-end-time='90438'>The greatest adventure, with my best friend,” Bezos said.</span> <span data-start-time='90438' data-end-time='99417'>Joining the brothers will be at least one other passenger who is being chosen by an online auction. </span> <span data-start-time='99417' data-end-time='107167'>Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and capsule can carry up to six people.</span> <span data-start-time='107167' data-end-time='117771'>The spacecraft will take its passengers on a 10-minute flight to about 105 kilometers above Earth. </span> <span data-start-time='117771' data-end-time='128646'>That distance is a common international definition for the beginning of space, also known as the “Karman line.” </span> <span data-start-time='128646' data-end-time='143604'>The passengers are expected to spend about four minutes in this suborbital space, where they can experience weightlessness and observe the curvature of Earth.</span> <span data-start-time='143604' data-end-time='152458'>The rocket will take off from Blue Origin’s launch center in a rural area of West Texas. </span> <span data-start-time='152458' data-end-time='164563'>After the capsule separates, the reusable rocket is designed to return to Earth and land in an upright position by itself. </span> <span data-start-time='164563' data-end-time='172438'>The capsule is designed to float back to the surface with three large parachutes.</span> <span data-start-time='172438' data-end-time='183729'>Blue Origin said it has carried out 15 successful test flights of New Shepard, but none of those carried humans. </span> <span data-start-time='183729' data-end-time='193396'>The spacecraft is named after NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to go into space. </span> <span data-start-time='193396' data-end-time='197604'>The planned launch date is July 20. </span> <span data-start-time='197604' data-end-time='212146'>The date was chosen because it is the 52nd anniversary of the first moon landing by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.</span> <span data-start-time='212146' data-end-time='220188'>Bezos has said he will step down as Amazon’s chief 15 days before the launch. </span> <span data-start-time='220188' data-end-time='227667'>Earlier, he announced that he wanted to spend more time on projects for Blue Origin.</span> <span data-start-time='227667' data-end-time='239354'>On its website, the company says its goal is to develop reusable launch vehicles for civilian and defense purposes. </span> <span data-start-time='239354' data-end-time='246708'>The Bezos flight will officially launch the company's space tourism business. </span> <span data-start-time='246708' data-end-time='255542'>The company has yet to start selling seats to the public or announce prices for the short trips.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/A.jpeg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=17578 data-hint-location='143604' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/from_which_state_will_the_blue_origin_rocket_launch_from.wav'>From which state will the Blue Origin rocket launch from?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Texas'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/texas.wav'><span>Texas</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/california.wav'><span>California</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/florida.wav'><span>Florida</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/massachusetts.wav'><span>Massachusetts</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=17579 data-hint-location='183729' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/the_spacecraft_is_named_after_nasa_astronaut_alan_shepard_the_first__blank__to_go_into_space_.wav'>The spacecraft is named after NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, the first <span class='blank'>American</span> to go into space. </div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='American'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/american.wav'><span>American</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/soviet.wav'><span>Soviet</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/chimpanzee.wav'><span>Chimpanzee</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/dog.wav'><span>Dog</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=17580 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/what_is_a_founder.wav'>What is a founder?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a person who establishes an institution'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/a_person_who_establishes_an_institution.wav'><span>a person who establishes an institution</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/a_small_flatfish_that_typically_occurs_in_shallow_coastal_water.wav'><span>a small flatfish that typically occurs in shallow coastal water</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/in_baseball_a_ground_ball.wav'><span>in baseball, a ground ball</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/5154/an_expert_in_or_student_of_the_scientific_study_of_plants.wav'><span>an expert in or student of the scientific study of plants</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button 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