TORONTO – Former astronaut and second man to walk on the moon Buzz Aldrin knows what it’s like to be away from home and unable to pay a bill.
Aldrin was on hand at a press conference on Thursday to unveil the launch of PayPal Galactic “space commerce system” that is in partnership with the SETI Institute and Space Tourism Society.
There are still questions as to how commerce will be regulated and what the currency will be. PayPal’s president, David Marcus, said that the company is very serious about making science fiction become a reality.
“Within five to ten years the earliest types of ‘space hotels’ and orbital and lunar commerce will be operational and in need of a payment system,” said John Spencer, founder and president of the Space Tourism Society.
PayPal is familiar with space. Elon Musk, one of its founders, is the head of the private company Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, which is actively creating space vehicles.
“Trips to Mars, the moon, even orbit will require we provide astronauts and astro-tourists with as many comforts from home as possible, including how to pay each other,” said Aldrin. “Whether it’s paying a bill, even helping a family member on Earth, we’ll need access to money. I think humans will reach Mars, and I would like to see it happen in my lifetime. When that happens I won’t be surprised if people use PayPal Galactic for the little things and the big ones.”
No word yet about whether or not these space hotels will take credit cards.
–with files from The Canadian Press
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