SpaceX is planning to launch a mission around the moon for two passengers on a paid trip by the end of next year.

The proposed mission is to be the first private and privately funded tourist flight beyond the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceX is planning to use a new version of its Dragon (Version 2) spacecraft for the mission, which is scheduled to launch Nasa’s commercial crew programme to the ISS later this year.

The lunar mission will be sent aboard SpaceX’s new Falcon Heavy rocket, which is set to make its first test flight this summer.

SpaceX also noted that the commercial crew programme will be in automatic mode, with plans in place to carry out a manned mission by the second quarter of next year. The mission will be carried out on behalf of Nasa to the ISS. 

"The proposed mission is to be the first private and privately funded tourist flight beyond the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS)."

The company is currently contracted to conduct an average of four Dragon 2 missions to the ISS per year, with three carrying cargo and one carrying crew.

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was quoted by CNBC as saying: “We have been approached by private individuals; this is a private mission with paying customers."

The company has not revealed the names of the first lunar tourists.

Musk added: “There is some risk here. We will do everything we can to minimise this risk, but it is not zero.

"They are coming into this with their eyes open.”

The mission is expected to perform a long loop around the moon and will take about a week.