[imagesource: SpaceX]
It’s been a while since we heard anything from Yusaku Maezawa.
In late 2018, SpaceX announced that the billionaire would be the first paying passenger to go on a trip around the moon.
Maezawa also launched a bizarre campaign to find a romantic partner to accompany him. It’s like an extreme version of The Bachelor, but instead of a proposal, you get to go to space.
I was starting to think those hopes had been dashed as he is now under investigation for tax fraud.
But, I stand corrected.
Despite what must be a fortune in legal bills, Maezawa is still going ahead with those plans, and seems to have been inspired by billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman’s raffle and competition, which will see two lucky winners flying alongside him into orbit.
Maezawa is looking for eight people to join him on his moon mission, and if you’re keen to secure a spot on the space shuttle, all you have to do is apply, and hope for the best.
According to The Verge, on Tuesday he announced that he wanted to reach a “wider, more diverse audience”. His initial plan had been to ride with a select group of artists and creatives.
“I want people from all kinds of backgrounds to join,” Maezawa said in a video posted Tuesday afternoon, when the contest’s application went live.
“It will be 10 to 12 people in all, but I will be inviting 8 people to come along on the ride.”
He explains it all in a promo video:
Liftoff is set for 2023, but that date might not hold. It all depends on the construction of the spaceship and any unforeseen factors that might come into play.
The criteria are simple. Maezawa is looking for those who “can push its envelope to help other people and greater society in some way” and are “willing to support other crew members who share similar aspirations”.
Starship is SpaceX’s next-generation, fully reusable Mars rocket system designed to ferry humans and up to 100 tons of cargo on future missions into deep space.
SpaceX has had some difficulties with landing its Starship prototype rockets. So far all of them have exploded.
There is currently no info on how the selected few who will head to the moon will be trained, but your flight will be fully subsidised.
It would take three days to get there, where Starship will loop behind it and begin its three-day journey back to Earth.
If you’re keen to throw your hat into the ring, head here to fill out a form.
[source:verge]
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