What To Know
- The dearMoon project, an ambitious program that aims to send a Japanese billionaire and ten other crew members on a circumlunar flight aboard SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, was abruptly canceled this Friday, but for what reasons.
- The project promised not only a unique human and artistic adventure, but also to highlight the technical capabilities of the Starship.
- While a fourth test flight is looming for June, there are still many many steps to take for Starship to be operational for manned flight, such as controlled flight in space, in-space refueling, and habitability testing.
The dearMoon project, an ambitious program that aims to send a Japanese billionaire and ten other crew members on a circumlunar flight aboard SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, was abruptly canceled this Friday, but for what reasons?
A promising mission
Announced in 2018 by Yusaku MaezawaTHE dearMoon project was to be a world first: a manned circumlunar flight with SpaceX’s Starship. The project aimed to make history by taking artists and creatives around the Moon. Maezawa, billionaire and founder of Zozotown, decided not to experience it alone and held a competition to select the other ten crew members. The project promised not only a unique human and artistic adventure, but also to highlight the technical capabilities of the Starship.
Development challenges
However, like many major space projects, dearMoon has suffered significant delays. When Maezawa accepted the mission, the launch was scheduled to take place by the end of 2023. However, Starship’s development has taken longer than expected, with the vehicle’s first test flight not taking place until April 2023, well after the original schedule. While a fourth test flight is looming for June, there are still many many steps to take for Starship to be operational for manned flight, such as controlled flight in space, in-space refueling, and habitability testing.
Plasma visible on the Starship’s fins during its atmospheric reentry during the third test. Credits: SpaceX
The cancellation of dearMoon
In statement On the social network X, dearMoon officials expressed their regret at announcing the cancellation of the project. Maezawa explained that uncertainty surrounding the launch date Starship’s future planning was making it difficult and he felt bad about making the crew wait any longer. He also apologized to those who were looking forward to the project. This decision is likely also a money question. When dearMoon was announced, Maezawa’s net worth was estimated at around $3 billion. Today, it’s worth about half that. Additionally, apparent tensions between Maezawa and Elon Musk may have played a role. Musk unfollowed Maezawa on X earlier this year, a possible sign of discord between the two parties.
The implications and priorities for SpaceX
The cancellation of dearMoon could, however, have positive repercussions on SpaceX’s priorities. As a reminder, NASA had selected the Starship as a lunar lander in 2019 for its Artemis program. This contract, worth $2.9 billion, had also allowed SpaceX to finance part of the development of the Starship. With the cancellation of dearMoon, SpaceX can now focus its efforts on this crucial program. In sum, the cancellation of dearMoon illustrates the challenges inherent in private space exploration. Nevertheless, it allows SpaceX to redirect its resources toward important strategic objectives, while continuing to advance the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies needed for future missions.
