Billionaire who booked a SpaceX flight around the Moon cancels after delays
Why has Yusaku Maezawa decided to cancel the planned Moon flight aboard SpaceX’s Starship?
Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, decided to cancel the planned Moon flight aboard SpaceX's Starship due to the uncertainty surrounding the launch schedule and the project's development4. He initially signed up for the trip in 2018, expecting to fly by the end of 2023. However, with Starship still in development and the flight already indefinitely delayed, Maezawa felt that he could not plan his future under these circumstances and did not want to make the crew members wait any longer.
What significant event related to SpaceX's Starship occurred just days before Maezawa announced the flight's indefinite delay in November?
Just days before Yusaku Maezawa announced the indefinite delay of the dearMoon flight in November, SpaceX conducted the second flight test of its Starship. The test resulted in an explosion shortly after launch. This event likely contributed to Maezawa's decision to postpone the trip, as it highlighted the ongoing development challenges and uncertainties surrounding the Starship project.
What was the original plan for Yusaku Maezawa's flight around the Moon with SpaceX's Starship?
The original plan for Yusaku Maezawa's flight around the Moon with SpaceX's Starship, known as the dearMoon project, was to take eight artists on a circumlunar trajectory. Maezawa had signed the contract in 2018 with the expectation to fly in 2023. The project aimed to inspire the artists in their creation of new art, which would be presented after their return to Earth, with the goal of promoting peace around the world. However, the mission was cancelled in June 2024 due to Starship's developmental delays and uncertainties around the launch schedule.