The privately-funded mission is planned for the year 2018. The couple would blast off in a rocket and make the trip to Mars in a capsule about the size of an RV. The mission would last 16 months. The couple wouldn't land on the planet, but just zip by and return.
The initial money for the trip will come from multimillionaire Dennis Tito, the first space tourist. It's being organized by the non-profit group "Inspiration Mars."
NASA is not involved.
