Bezos riding own rocket on company's 1st flight with people

Jeff Bezos is about to soar on his space travel company’s first flight with people on board.

founder of Blue Origin as well as Amazon on Tuesday will become second billionaire to ride his own rocket. He’ll launch from West Texas with his bror, an 18-year-old from Nerlands and an 82-year-old female aviation pioneer from Texas — youngest and oldest to ever hurtle off planet.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket is set to blast off with its eclectic group of passengers on 52nd anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing.

Bezos is aiming for an altitude of roughly 66 miles (106 kilometers), more than 10 miles (16 kilometers) higher than Richard Branson’s ride on July 11.

capsule is fully automated, so re’s no need for trained staff on quick up-and-down flight, expected to last just 10 minutes. Branson's Virgin Galactic rocket plane needs two pilots to operate.

Bezos' dream-come-true trip follows 15 successful test flights to space by New Shepard rockets since 2015, all of m unoccupied. If successful, Blue Origin plans two more passenger flights by year's end.

company has yet to open ticket sales to public and is filling upcoming flights with those who took part in last month's $28 million charity auction for fourth capsule seat. mystery winner bowed out of Tuesday's launch because of a scheduling conflict. That opened up slot for Oliver Daemen, a college-bound student from Nerlands whose far was among unsuccessful bidders.

Also flying: Bezos' younger bror Mark and Wally Funk, one of 13 female pilots who went through same testing back in early 1960s as NASA's Mercury astronauts, but failed to make cut because y were women.

Not everyone in remote, desert town of Van Horn was excited about drama unfolding 25 miles (40 kilometers) to north.

“It's a luxury that's going to be set aside for wealthy,” said pizza shop owner Jesus Ramirez. He planned to watch morning launch from his restaurant's patio with a cup of coffee.

IMAGE: AP