Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has announced that he is canceling his highly anticipated SpaceX moon journey. Maezawa, who was revealed as the first private passenger to orbit the moon by Elon Musk in 2018, has decided to withdraw from the project due to ongoing uncertainties and delays.
The dearMoon Project and Expectations
Maezawa had selected eight famous individuals to accompany him on this groundbreaking journey aboard SpaceX’s Starship. The crew included notable figures such as DJ Steve Aoki, director Brendan Hall, actor Dev Joshi, musician Choi Seung Hyun, and YouTuber Tim Dodd. The project, named dearMoon, generated significant excitement and anticipation worldwide.
Developments and Project Cancellation
The development of Starship has faced several challenges, leading to indefinite delays. Originally scheduled for late 2023, the launch has been postponed multiple times, causing frustration and uncertainty. On June 1, the official dearMoon account announced the project’s cancellation, expressing regret and apologizing to supporters. Following this, Maezawa explained his reasons for the decision on his X (formerly Twitter) account:
“I signed the contract in 2018 assuming dearMoon would launch by the end of 2023. Since this is a development project, the exact launch date for Starship remains uncertain. Given these circumstances, I cannot plan my future, and I feel bad for keeping the crew members waiting any longer. Therefore, I had to make the decision to cancel at this point. I apologize to those who were looking forward to this project.”
Possible Reasons and Future Expectations
Several factors likely contributed to the project’s cancellation. The second test flight of Starship ended in an explosion, and the spacecraft is still in the development phase, leading to significant delays and uncertainties. Additionally, Maezawa’s net worth has reportedly halved since 2018, and SpaceX’s commitments to government contracts may have further complicated the project’s feasibility.
SpaceX plans to conduct the third test flight of Starship on June 5. While Maezawa’s decision marks a significant setback for private space travel, the field continues to attract considerable interest and investment. The future of private space travel remains promising, with the potential for such journeys to become more accessible and widespread in the years to come.
