In a move that surprised many space enthusiasts, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has canceled his ambitious dearMoon project, which aimed to be the first private lunar flyby mission. The news came via a statement released on the project’s website on Saturday, citing scheduling uncertainties as the reason behind the cancellation.
Maezawa, the colorful founder of Zozo, an online fashion giant, had been at the forefront of private space exploration for several years. In 2018, he was announced as the first private passenger for SpaceX and later became the first private citizen to visit the International Space Station in over a decade. The Dearborn project, announced in 2022, promised to be the next big step, taking eight crew, including celebrities like K-pop star TOP and DJ Steve Aoki, on a historical journey around the moon.
The original goal was to complete the mission by the end of 2023. However, delays plagued the project. While the statement offered no specifics, it highlighted the lack of “clear schedule certainty in the near term” as the factor in Maezawa’s “unavoidable decision.”
The cancellation has left many supporters and potential crew members disappointed. Maezawa, in the statement, expressed his sincere appreciation for their backing and apologized for the outcome. The project had garnered significant interest, not just for its private nature but also for its focus on artistic expression. Maezawa had envisioned the mission as an inspiration for creative minds, inviting artists from various disciplines to join the crew.
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This setback for Dearborn doesn’t necessarily signify a halt in private lunar exploration. SpaceX, the company Maezawa partnered with for Dearborn, is still actively developing its Starship spacecraft, which is intended for future lunar missions, including NASA’s Artemis program. Other private space companies like Blue Origin are also making strides in this arena.
The reasons behind the DearMoon cancellation remain unclear. Technical hurdles with the Starship or logistical complexities with SpaceX’s busy schedule could have contributed to the delays. Financial constraints could also be a factor, though Maezawa’s wealth suggests this might not be the main reason.
Despite the cancellation, Maezawa’s contribution to private space exploration should be noticed. His involvement with SpaceX helped pave the way for future private missions, and his focus on artistic expression during DearMoon offered a unique perspective on space travel.
The future of dearMoon itself remains uncertain. The statement offered no details on whether the project might be revived later. However, with continued advancements in private spaceflight technology, a private lunar flyby mission might be a reality.
While the immediate future of lunar tourism is on hold, Maezawa’s Dearborn project has sparked a conversation about the possibilities of private space exploration. The coming years will likely see the rise of more such missions, pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight and opening the doors for a new era of lunar exploration.