Sign Up, Japanese Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Seeks Friends For Moon Trip

Yusaku Maezawa. (Twitter / @ yousuck2020)

JAKARTA - Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on Wednesday local time, launched a search for eight people to join him as the first private passenger, on a trip around the moon with Elon Musk's SpaceX.

He originally planned to invite the artist for a week-long trip scheduled for 2023. This announcement was made via his personal Twitter account @yousuck2020.

"This project will give more people from all over the world the opportunity to join in on this journey. If you see yourself as an artist, then you are an artist", said Maezawa.

The first phase of the application process will run until March 14.

The entrepreneur, who is selling Zozo Inc's online fashion business to SoftBank in 2019, will pay for the entire trip with SpaceX's next-generation reusable launch vehicle, dubbed the Starship.

Two of SpaceX's prototypes exploded recently during testing, underscoring the risks for Maezawa, 45, and his fellow passengers, who also have to face the stress of space travel on their first private voyage beyond Earth orbit.

"This mission we expect people to go farther than any human from Planet Earth has ever undertaken", said Elon Musk, days after SpaceX completed its latest $ 850 million fundraisers, which has helped turn the entrepreneur into one the richest man in the world.

Maezawa is famous for its art collections and supercars, as well as cash prizes which make it the most followed Twitter account in Japan.

Last year she launched a short documentary about the search for a new boyfriend, to join his on a trip before bringing out 'mixed feelings' excuses.

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- 前 澤 友 作 ┃ 月 旅行 に 8 名 ご 招待 (@yousuck2020) March 2, 2021