Sergey Brin Books Flight into Space

The Google co-founder has invested $5 million to nab a seat with his name on it when commercial spaceflight becomes a reality.

Google Founder Sergey Brin may have conquered the terrestrial world by leading his company to financial success and worldwide recognition, but it’s space that he’s set his eye on next. The entrepreneur plunked down $5 million this week for a future flight into space with Space Adventures Ltd.

The investment makes Brin a “founding member” of the so-called Orbital Mission Explorers Circle, a group of investors who will have priority access to the company’s commercial space flights once they begin. The $5 million serves as a deposit on the eventual space mission, which doesn’t yet have a firm price. Brin and other investors will have the opportunity to reserve seats for themselves or, in true entrepreneurial style, sell the seat to someone else.

“I am a big believer in the exploration and commercial development of the space frontier, and am looking forward to the possibility of going into space,” Brin said, in a statement. “The Orbital Mission Explorers Circle enables me to make an immediate investment while preserving the option to participate in a future spaceflight.”