Technology

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is SpaceX's first passenger to fly to moon

Updated : September 18, 2018 08:12 AM IST

Maezawa will attempt to be the first to return to the moon in nearly 50 years, launching aboard a Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) - the rocket SpaceX is developing.

When asked about how much Maezawa paid, Musk told CNBC that he was "not disclosing the amount but he's paying a very significant amount of money."

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa is SpaceX's first passenger to fly to moon

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Monday said Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese billionaire, is the first passenger to fly around the moon on the company's next generation rocket.

A website for the mission went live after the announcement.

Maezawa will attempt to be the first to return to the moon in nearly 50 years, launching aboard a Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) - the rocket SpaceX is developing.

BFR is one step closer to accomplishing Musk's vision of creating a self-sustaining human presence on Mars.

The tourist will fly in the Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) being designed to carry people into deep space, the Elon Musk-led company said in a tweet.

Maezawa earned his wealth and fortune by being the founder of online retailers Start Today and Zozotown. "Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the moon," Maezawa was quoted as saying in a CNBC report.

This is BFR from @spacex #dearMoon pic.twitter.com/jZiu1RHqUN

— Yusaku Maezawa 前澤友作 (@yousuck2020) September 18, 2018

When asked about how much Maezawa paid, Musk told CNBC that he was "not disclosing the amount but he's paying a very significant amount of money."

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