CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Sixty years after Alan Shepard became the first American in space, everyday people are on the verge of following in his cosmic footsteps.
Jeff Bezos is using Wednesday's anniversary to open ticket sales for his Blue Origin company.
Elon Musk's SpaceX will use its newly returned capsule to launch a billionaire in September, along with a pair of contest winners and a hospital worker.
Shepard rocketed from Cape Canaveral on May 5, 1961.
To date, 579 people have flown in space. That number is expected to soar with upcoming tourist flights.
