Japanese billionaire cancels trip to the moon – E24

A Japanese billionaire who wanted to take celebrities on a private trip to the moon has canceled the trip.

Yusaku Maezawa named the project “Dear Moon,” and the trip to the moon was originally supposed to be completed at the end of last year.

Maezawa had booked a flight on SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, which was supposed to be completed by the end of 2023. However, Starship development was delayed and the three test launches from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, did not go as planned.

The message came on Saturday stating that the trip had been canceled because it could not be completed in the near future.

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in statement The project's website said that Maezawa canceled the trip with a heavy heart, while everyone who supported and looked forward to the project will receive an apology.

Plans were first announced in 2018. In December 2022, Maezawa published a list of the eight celebrities who would be joining: American DJ and producer Steve Aoki, American YouTuber Tim Dowd, Czech artist Yemi AD, Irish photographer Rhiannon Adam, British photographer. Karim Elia, American director Brendan Hall, Indian actor Dev Joshi, and South Korean musician T.O.P.

SpaceX has scheduled its next Starship test for no later than 7 a.m. local time on June 5, according to Space flight now. Once the spacecraft is fully developed, NASA is scheduled to use it to land on the moon, as part of the Artemis program.