Japanese billionaire cancels private flight around the moon on SpaceX's giant Starship
What are the technical and logistical challenges that SpaceX faces in preparing Starship for lunar missions, including the need for multiple refueling missions?
SpaceX faces several technical and logistical challenges in preparing its Starship for lunar missions. One significant challenge is the need for multiple refueling missions to enable Starship to reach the moon. SpaceX has estimated that it would take at least "ten-ish" refueling missions alone to fuel Starship for a trip to the moon. The company has not yet reached a full orbit with Starship or demonstrated a full refueling flight, although it did test refueling technology on its third Starship test flight in March.
Another challenge is the development and testing of Starship's in-space refueling technology, which will play a key role in sending humans back to the moon for the first time since 1972. This technology is crucial for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return people to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
Furthermore, Starship needs to be able to dock with other spacecraft, such as NASA's Orion orbiter, to transport astronauts to the lunar surface. Engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center have spent 10 days using hardware from the Starship lander and NASA's Orion orbiter at "various approach angles and speeds," according to a release. "These real-world results, using full-scale hardware, will validate computer models of the moon lander's docking system," agency officials wrote4.
Lastly, there is the challenge of ensuring the safety and reliability of Starship for crewed missions. SpaceX has been conducting a series of test flights to develop a crewed Starship to land NASA Artemis astronauts on the moon by 2026. However, the uncertainty over when Starship would be ready to fly has led to the cancellation of the dearMoon mission, a private trip around the moon, by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa.
What were the primary reasons cited by Yusaku Maezawa for cancelling the dearMoon mission?
Yusaku Maezawa, the Japanese billionaire, cited the delays with SpaceX's Starship megarocket as the primary reason for canceling the dearMoon mission. He stated that the uncertainty over when Starship would be ready to fly his dearMoon mission led him to cancel the flight. Maezawa explained that he signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption that dearMoon would launch by the end of 2023, but the rocket's development took longer than expected, and it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch2.
Who is Tariq Malik, and what has been his contribution to space journalism and Space.com's coverage of space exploration?
Tariq Malik is the Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, a premier source of space exploration, innovation, and astronomy news. He has been part of the Space.com team since 2001, first as an intern and staff writer, and later as an editor. Tariq covers human spaceflight, exploration, and space science, as well as skywatching and entertainment. He became Space.com's Managing Editor in 2009 and Editor-in-Chief in 2019.
Tariq's contributions to space journalism include his extensive reporting on various space-related topics, such as the launch of spacecraft, updates on Mars missions, and developments in commercial space travel. He has also been involved in on-air talent, presenting space stories on CNN, Fox News, NPR, and others. As an Eagle Scout and Space Camp veteran, Tariq has a deep-rooted passion for space exploration, which is evident in his work.
In addition to his role at Space.com, Tariq is also the co-host of the This Week In Space podcast with space historian Rod Pyle on the TWiT network, where they discuss the latest space-related news and developments.
Tariq has a journalism degree from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting from New York University4. Prior to joining Space.com, he was a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times, covering education and city beats in La Habra, Fullerton, and Huntington Beach.