Japanese billionaire offering free trips to moon

A Japanese billionaire is offering people the chance to join him on SpaceX’s planned private space flight to the moon in 2023, the first time private citizens of any country will travel that far.

In a tweet and video released early Tuesday morning, Zozo CEO Yusaku Maezawa indicated that he would invite eight people to join him on the planned mission, adding that those from “all kinds of backgrounds” are encouraged to apply.

月旅行ミッション #dearMoon にエントリーすると、自分の顔写真入りのカードが作れます

エントリーはこちら↓からhttps://t.co/pt0Hg5NoIE pic.twitter.com/WYScdyySlM

— 前澤友作┃月旅行に8名ご招待 (@yousuck2020) March 3, 2021

In the video, Maezawa indicated that he originally planned for a selection of artists to accompany him on the flight, but soon expanded his plans after considering what would be considered “art.”

“Whatever activity you are into, by going to space, I hope you can push its envelope,” he said.

The planned moon mission will follow a private spaceflight chartered from SpaceX by billionaire Jared Isaacman, set to take place later this year, for which Isaacman is also set to invite four other private citizens to join him. That mission was announced earlier this month.

“It will be the first-ever all-private crewed orbital mission in history,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, said earlier this month upon announcing the mission.

SpaceX has remained the leading company in the development of private space flights but has suffered a handful of setbacks in its attempts to provide such services, most recently in December when a rocket produced by the company exploded after a test flight.