Tom Hanks says no to $28 mn, 12-min space trip on Jeff Bezos spaceship; SpaceX wins NASA project

Space tourism is too pricey for Tom Hanks. Meanwhile, SpaceX is cleared to perform a $3 bn NASA contract to develop tech to land people on the moon after a court dismissed Blue Origin's protest.

When Jeff Bezos offered Tom Hanks the opportunity to board a Blue Origin LLC flight, he told the billionaire it was too expensive. (US actor Tom Hanks and wife US actress Rita Wilson) (AFP)

Space tourism is too pricey for Tom Hanks. When Jeff Bezos offered the Oscar-winning actor the opportunity to board a Blue Origin LLC flight, he told the billionaire it was too expensive, Hanks said during an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Blue Origin has lost its protest of SpaceX's Lunar landing contract with NASA.

The 65-year-old actor said he's doing well financially, but wouldn't pay “about $28 million” for a 12-minute flight. “We could simulate the experience of going to space right now,” Hanks said. “We could all do it in our seats.” Hanks said he was offered the opportunity before Star Trek star William Shatner, who was aboard a Blue Origin spaceflight last month. At 90 years old, “Star Trek” actor Shatner became the oldest person to go into space.

Jimmy Kimmel asked Hanks whether he'd board a spaceflight if it were free. Only to “experience the joy (of) pretending I'm a billionaire,” the actor quipped.

Blue Origin Loses Protest of SpaceX's Lunar Landing Contract

(Bloomberg Law) SpaceX is cleared to perform a nearly $3 billion NASA contract to develop technology to land people on the moon after the U.S. Court of Federal Claims dismissed Blue Origin Federation LLC's protest Thursday.

Judge Richard A. Hertling granted motions to dismiss in a one-page order of judgment. The court's opinion is under seal, but a public version will be issued after the parties agree on redactions.

In response to the news, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted a meme saying “You have been judged!”

Blue Origin claimed that NASA disregarded safety requirements in its decision to select SpaceX and failed to hold proper discussions with Blue Origin.

The court protest followed an unsuccessful challenge at the Government Accountability Office by Blue Origin and Dynetics Inc.

They had argued that making a single contract award was anticompetitive and risky. But the GAO said July 30 that NASA's solicitation put bidders on notice that it could make multiple awards, a single award, or no award at all.

The GAO also rejected claims that NASA engaged in a disparate evaluation by not penalizing SpaceX's bid for similar weaknesses identified in the protesters' bids.

NASA and Blue Origin didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.