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The Dutch teenager, who became the youngest space traveler this week, surprised billionaire Jeff Bezos during the flight by telling him that he had never ordered from Amazon, Reuters reported.
Oliver Damen, an 18-year-old physics student, accompanied Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and 82-year-old aviator Wally Funk, who became the oldest man to fly into space, on a 10-minute journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Bezos is funding research firm Blue Origin by selling billions of dollars worth of Amazon shares.
“I told Jeff I had never actually bought anything from Amazon,” Damen said at Schiphol Airport. In response, the billionaire said he had not heard anyone say that for a long time.
Damen was selected after another candidate, who offered $ 28 million for the trip, resigned at the last minute. He realized that he would join the flight while in Italy on holiday with his family and welcomed the news with enthusiasm.
Damen has dreamed of traveling in space since he was a child, following all the developments of space research companies like Blue Origin. He received a pilot’s license when he was still young.
“We didn’t pay even close to 28 million, but they chose me because I was the youngest, because I’m a pilot and because I already know a lot about it,” he added.
Three days after the trip, he still can’t believe it.
“I don’t think I realized it was really happening until I got on the rocket,” admits Damen, who didn’t believe he would achieve his cherished dream so soon. He described the feeling of weightlessness as “strange”, comparing it to being in the water.
Prior to the voyage, the crew received two days of safety training.
Damen began his studies at Utrecht University in September. For now, he is not sure what he will do next, but he will seriously consider a career in space travel.
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