He Won a Trip to Space then He Gave It Away to a Friend

He Won a Trip to Space then He Gave It Away to a Friend
Kyle Hippchen poses for a photo in front of a SpaceX Dragon capsule at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 21, 2022. John Raoux/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.—He told his family and a few friends. He dropped hints to a couple of colleagues. So hardly anyone knew that the airline pilot could have—should have—been on board when SpaceX launched its first tourists into orbit last year.

Meet Kyle Hippchen, the real winner of a first-of-its-kind sweepstakes, who gave his seat to his college roommate.