Dennis Tito, an 82-year-old former aerospace engineer who is now a financial analyst, is working with SpaceX on plans to take his wife on what would essentially be a belated honeymoon trip to the moon. In 2001, Tito paid Russia $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station.

Tito stated during an appearance with 'CBS Mornings' that he and his wife of two years are interested in travelling aboard Elon Musk's futuristic Starship for the shear thrill of it. They also hope to encourage elderly people who may feel like their options are becoming progressively more limited.

Since my space flight 20 years ago, I've been considering a lunar flight, Tito stated. 'And here we were (recently) at SpaceX, and they were eager to discuss a space flight. And I mentioned it. We both boarded the ship a little while later.'

After the rocket completes a number of test flights, Tito and his wife Akiko, both 57, said they expect to launch into space with 10 other unnamed passengers over the next five years or so in an interview on Monday at SpaceX's expansive Starship construction complex outside Brownsville, Texas.

Tito described the intended trajectory, saying, 'We will be able to see the Earth get smaller, and smaller, and smaller, and the moon get larger, and larger, and larger.' When we leave the far side of the moon, we will have a view of Earth that only the Apollo astronauts have had. We're going to be literally out of this world, he remarked.

As it stands, their journey would probably come after two other Super Heavy/Starship rocket-piloted flights: one to Earth orbit, possibly with billionaire Jared Isaacman, who funded the first private orbital flight aboard a Crew Dragon capsule in 2021; and one around the moon, chartered by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa.

Real estate investor and pilot Akiko Tito said: 'I agree with Dennis that age is just a number. We simply want to inspire others, and I in particular hope to encourage young women who aspire to become astronauts or pilots in the future. Work hard and make it happen, you know.'

Actor William Shatner, then 90, broke the record last year when he travelled to the edge of space in a suborbital Blue Origin New Shepard spaceship. The late John Glenn, who was 77 years old when he rode in a space shuttle in 1998, was the oldest person to enter orbit.

Tito said he's in better health now than when he launched aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to become the first 'space tourist,' even though he may be close to 90 years old when he eventually gets his Starship ride.

In addition to walking and running on a quarter-mile track outside his house, the plan calls for weight training. Also owned by the pair is a Pilates facility.

According to Tito, 'we're not banking on (launching) next year.' Because many individuals, when they reach my age, 'will sit in a rocking chair and wait for the inevitable,' we have to stay in good shape, which is a terrific motivator for us.