Japan Billionaire Maezawa Cancels Moon Trip Due To Uncertainty Over SpaceX Rocket Development

TOKYO — The billionaire Japanese man Yusaku Maezawa postponed his scheduled SpaceX lunar orbital voyage on Saturday due to concerns about its potential timeline.

ThJapan Billionaire Maezawa Cancels Moon Trip Due To Uncertainty Over SpaceX Rocket Developmente tycoon announced plans for the lunar flyby journey in 2018. After spending 12 days aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2021, he purchased seats for eight traveling companions for his second space mission in 2022.

Maezawa | Wiproud Image

Japan Billionaire Maezawa Cancels Moon Trip Due To Uncertainty Over SpaceX Rocket Development

Given the advancement of SpaceX’s Spaceship mega-rocket project, most space experts viewed Maezawa’s objective of 2023 for the lunar journey as unduly optimistic. The first-ever private flight around the moon would have occurred.

In a statement on its website on Saturday, the mission organizer stated that the project had become “unfeasible.” “Maezawa made the difficult decision to cancel the project with heavy hearts, as there is no clear schedule certainty shortly.”

It said, “We sincerely appreciate your support and apologize for this outcome to everyone who looked forward to this endeavor and supported this project.”

Out of one million applications, Maezawa chose eight people for his “dearMoon” initiative. Among them were DJ Steve Aoki, director Brendan Hall from the United States, and the lead rapper of the K-pop group Big Bang.

Maezawa | NZ Herald Image

Japan Billionaire Maezawa Cancels Moon Trip Due To Uncertainty Over SpaceX Rocket Development

“I can’t plan my future in this situation and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence (I made) the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time,” Maezawa stated separately in his message on X on Saturday.

He remarked, “I apologize to those who were looking forward to this project.”

He claimed that he signed the SpaceX contract in 2018 with the understanding that the launch would be feasible by the end of 2023. “It’s a developmental project, so that’s what it is, but the launch window for Starship is still unknown.”

Minutes after takeoff on SpaceX’s mega-rocket test flights from last year, explosions occurred. Its spacecraft vanished during the descent back to Earth in a third test conducted in March.

Maezawa | Euro News Image

Japan Billionaire Maezawa Cancels Moon Trip Due To Uncertainty Over SpaceX Rocket Development

In December 2021, Maezawa and his producer visited the space station for the first time as independent travelers since 2009.

Maezawa founded Zozotown, Japan’s largest online fashion mall, and amassed a fortune in the retail fashion industry.

SOURCE – (AP)