Japanese billionaire cancels his “Dear Moon” Starship mission
The Japanese billionaire, Yusaku Maezawa, today announced he has canceled his “Dear Moon” Starship mission that was supposed to take him and a bunch of artists and writers on a fly-by mission to the Moon.
Maezawa suggested the cause of the cancellation was uncertainty over the project development, saying he signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption the launch would come by the end of 2023. “It’s a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch,” Maezawa said. “I can’t plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time.”
This decision really suggests to me that Maezawa’s whole project was simply a PR stunt. It seems strange to cancel now, when actual test launches of Superheavy/Starship are taking place and showing solid and speedy progress.
No matter. I have no doubt others will show up and buy flights. I also would not be shocked in the slightest if another billionaire shows up to and offers to fly the artists and writers who won seats on Maezawa’s proposed flight.
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The Japanese billionaire, Yusaku Maezawa, today announced he has canceled his “Dear Moon” Starship mission that was supposed to take him and a bunch of artists and writers on a fly-by mission to the Moon.
Maezawa suggested the cause of the cancellation was uncertainty over the project development, saying he signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption the launch would come by the end of 2023. “It’s a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch,” Maezawa said. “I can’t plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time.”
This decision really suggests to me that Maezawa’s whole project was simply a PR stunt. It seems strange to cancel now, when actual test launches of Superheavy/Starship are taking place and showing solid and speedy progress.
No matter. I have no doubt others will show up and buy flights. I also would not be shocked in the slightest if another billionaire shows up to and offers to fly the artists and writers who won seats on Maezawa’s proposed flight.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in the past two weeks has the mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuses to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
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Starship, not Starliner, though I can see why the slip occurred given other news this morning.
I’d bet on Jared Isaacman being the billionaire who steps into Maezawa’s place. He’s already in line to fly the first Earth orbital Starship launch with a crew aboard as the third of his Polaris missions. Dear Moon could wind up being relabeled Polaris 4.
Of Maezawa’s erstwhile designated companions I hope Isaacman would invite at least Tim Dodd along on Polaris 4.
Dick Eagleson: Typo fixed. Thanks.
Dick Eagleson: Agree about Tim Dodd.
SpaceX has now provided a link to direct purchase of Dragon seats. Not much info (if you have to ask price you cannot afford it) but perhaps someone with a spare $50 to $75 million will put Tim into orbital space. His enthusiasm deserves it.
Of Maezawa’s erstwhile designated companions I hope Isaacman would invite at least Tim Dodd along on Polaris 4.
That’d be nice.
Space tourism will not get moving until there is someplace to go. A space station with very private rooms and service personal.
Billionaires need something to do in space besides cleaning up after themselves and looking out the windows.
Going around the Moon is nice but not in something the size of a buss with 4 other people.
“Going around the Moon is nice but not in something the size of a buss with 4 other people.”
On the contrary, if the price ever comes down, a “Lunar Cruise” could be quite popular.
3 to 4 days out, take a few laps to enjoy the view, or whatever other intimate activity one wishes while at the moon, and then 3 to 4 days back.
People take ocean cruises that do not go anywhere in particular all the time. Friends that enjoy these tell me about all the fun they have, and rarely mention the stops at predetermined shopping locations.
A well planned cruise around the Moon would be attractive to some.
pzatchok I agree, perhaps they can take some magnetized board games with them? Play space Pictionary? See if Star Link satellites can provide Internet for their podcast?
Or better yet if they want to get real crazy, take their own space station/hotel room with them! (not an inflatable one)
Instead of returning super heavy booster to earth, use the extra fuel to achieve a higher stable orbit before decoupling. Vent methane residual to vacuum from door/airlock pre-installed on side of booster. (I would prefer an airlock attachment between starship and the booster similar to the space station but too much to ask for in a short time)
Enter spent methane tank with nitrogen, camera recording equipment, digital monitoring devices, food and supplies and prepare for experimentation. (plenty of oxygen in other booster compartment)
Back starship up for safety and using thrusters (or leftover liquid oxygen) spin booster for artificial gravity demonstration. (accident waivers will be necessary)
Determine if there’s a wonderful benefit, or unknown side effects humans will not like. The tourist reaction will be genuine and convincing.
Take a Gyro package in case 90° spin becomes a problem… Especially when it’s time to use thrusters to neutralize the Long spin for departure.
Mount passive solar panels to exterior on a space walk to try out new space suits, then leave booster in orbit as an emergency habitation or rental space for a pharmaceutical company.
It’s also a fully functional booster making it ideal for fuel transfer experimentation in an already planned future launch.
With an eventual airlock attachment for the futuristic construction shuttlecraft, it would make ideal crew quarters for satellite repair and maintenance base, or the assembly nexus of a giant new Hubble optical telescope…
Engineering quarters will be needed for eventual orbital tank farm were the final preparations for the Mars colonization program can take place?
(I’m borrowing idea pieces of a planned space station theorized to be made from spent space shuttle center fuel tanks which had an interior space larger 747 fuselage… if hundreds of these were sent to a parking orbit instead of burned up in the atmosphere, could you imagine what could’ve been built?)
I don’t like waste or missed opportunities.
Tourism will be nowhere near as lucrative as the energy sector…Space Based Solar should be what is pushed.
Here’s why:
https://phys.org/news/2024-05-saudi-fund-group-boost-space.html
That’s real money, guys.
sippin_bourbon
You sort of missed the point.
They will not spend that kind of money for a few days in a bus with other people.
They want an area the size of a bis just for themselves and their partner so they can join the 100 mile high club or even the Moon club. And they do not want to hear the other people in the ship when in their own room.
They will also want someplace for a formal diner and someplace to maybe play games. They will want a maid and cook at least.
No one takes an ocean cruse and sits locked in their room looking out the window for a week.
After the first trip or two around the moon canned like that and no other billionaire will do it until they can have a good time doing it. They are no longer the first or even the second so whats the thrill?
One thing I wonder about for Starship reentry from a Lunar trajectory is the extra heat as compared with the baseline of LEO of which there would have been multiple trips by the time things are ready for going to the Moon. Maybe a minor detail. Maybe enough propellent will be available for extra delta-v slowdown.
Will China try to do it sooner?
One of the original proposals for lunar tourism is a large rotating habitat (or a dozen of them) in a endless figure 8 orbit that swings around the earth and then out to the moon and back.
Tourist would leave a station in earths orbit on a striped down rocket that would pull three gees or more using very little fuel to catch up to the space cruise ship delivering passengers and supplies while taking on returning passengers. The returning mass was believed to be half as much due to consumables being left on the station and trash being jettisoned to burn up in the atmosphere. The sewage will be delivered to the moon as biomass for the farms. (The original concept used a space plane to bring passengers to orbit, and to return them like the space shuttle once did)
I can’t help but think about 2001 space Odyssey with stewardesses with Velcro shoes attending passengers. Of course, if they remade the movie today it would have a robot performing these chores.
Those with the money and poor health or knee and back problems or excessive age that are no longer mobile may prefer living on a station or on the moon in 1/8G.
Yes, a trip in a tin can would be boring for a billionaire but they would have the bragging rights that comes with the money. Eventually they will purchase their own space yacht (from Virgin Galactic or Jeff Bezos Amazon?) and leave tourism to the millionaires that are tired of polluted ports and Covid type of scares who prefer as an alternative a low G exclusive environment to enjoy their final days.
This conversation reminds me of when we were speculating of what a space tourist would be called? Because they’re not astronauts.
As for space based solar, it would be by far the most expensive energy ever produced. Energy losses in transmission are so severe that it will never be economical unless a space elevator is made to transmit the power more effectively and safely.
With the advantages of modern technology, nuclear fuel is the most energy dense, reliable alternative that no other energy source comes close to.
Besides, any energy made in space will be consumed in space. Extreme environments requires excessive energy.
“Magnetized games” – I still have my pocket sized chess set from my Army days. I kept it in a small pouch. Very useful when you are Tactical Operations Center Duty Officer at Zero Dark Thirty and the “enemy” isn’t making things amusing. Somebody always knows or wants to learn chess.. https://www.amazon.com/KOKOSUN-7-9-Inch-Magnetic-Folding-Educational/dp/B08N5YSL4S/ref=sr_1_35?adgrpid=1338106301052311&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kN09YmbBg0NphAofCpd-yWq4CK4a1DFOFf6PXPg-VQexKvQepBl3RMRSw8oZepdQWoxJ39SQYhxN5QPFKEKJ07pd86UYKPLNhIjXSea6048VnqE1r_bm3uCUjGa_vFSlt5MDM1q_GGHPfFUHkhzBIIYMAmeUlzISyHjQ9ANCodpAPqc64Wxo1f7O0SiPR7cxQMwsvdOTJrlLWug6YsZmK-fwVcqAINfpGqdPsRntEQc2pWvWoAAZd2zOfSPBRPBXaosgv7JoWjt4G2NSnH5Ce1BUG9awo2C8lbP6S_Y14Uw.82Hac4A74nPuPgUaE-qlYLTwmmF-tIm_9GSeCRLjX_8&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83631853375203&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=95871&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83632066285809%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=5356_13156903&keywords=chess+set+mini+magnetic&qid=1717451113&sr=8-35
During my time in I learned 5 card games all new to me. Long nights.
Already knew chess. It took me about 200 games before i just pulled a draw with my teacher. The city champ.
Card games in space would be tricky. It might take some new equipment.