News Japan billionaire Yusaku Maezawa cancels trip to Moon

Separately on Saturday, Maezawa said in his message on X: "I can't plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence (I made) the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time. I apologize to those excited about this project happening," he said. He said he signed the contract with SpaceX in 2018, assuming the launch would be possible by the end of 2023. "It's a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain when Starship can launch." SpaceX's two test flights of its mega-rocket last year ended in explosions minutes after liftoff. In a third test in March, its spacecraft was lost as it descended back to Earth. Maezawa and his producer in December 2021 became the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009.

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