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Japanese Billionaire Maezawa Cancels dearMoon Lunar Mission on Saturday Due to SpaceX Delays

Jun 1, 2024, 12:52 PM

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has canceled the dearMoon lunar tourism mission, which was to be the first private circum-lunar flight. The mission, funded by Maezawa, was set to fly aboard SpaceX’s Starship and was intended to include an artist-filled crew. The cancellation is attributed to delays and uncertainties in the development of SpaceX’s Starship rocket. Maezawa announced the decision on Saturday, citing the complexity of the project and the significant challenges in ensuring a successful re-entry as major hurdles. It is unclear if Maezawa will receive a full refund.