Blue Origin, the space business run by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is to make its first human flight next month with its first passenger to be the man himself.
The world’s second richest man announced he would make the inaugural flight with his brother plus the winner of an online auction for the third seat on the New Shepard spaceship.
Blast-off is scheduled for July 20, the anniversary of the first moon landing 52 years ago.
In a video published on Instagram, Bezos said: "What a remarkable opportunity to see the Earth from space.
"I want to go on this flight because it's a thing. It's an adventure - it's a big deal for me."
"Ever since I was five years old, I've dreamed of travelling to space. On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother."
Blue Origin said it had received 5,200 bids in the seat auction with the highest bid in a second round of the process currently US$2.8mln.
The company has been developing the New Shepard spaceship for six years and it can carry up to six people.
Passengers in the flight will spend a few minutes in zero gravity before returning to Earth.
Bezos is involved in a space race with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk’s SpaceX venture and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, with the UK billionaire also promising to be one of the passengers when it launches its first flight which is expected to be later this year