Japan billionaire Maezawa cancels Dear Moon space tourism project

> Regarding the dearMoon project cancellation. > I signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption that dearMoon would launch by the end of 2023. > It’s a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch.

https://twitter.com/yousuckMZ/status/1796778109259403300

> I can’t plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time. > I apologize to those who were excited for this project to happen.

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Essentially, he can't setup a training regimen for his astronauts, if he doesn't know when and if the launch vessel will ever exist, much less get a license.

There were 8-9 people that were supposed to travel, they are not professional astronauts, they have lives and careers, you can at best book an year of their time, but there that only works when you know that at the end of that year, you WILL launch, otherwise the skills get rusty, not to mention life gets in the way.

Compare with Jared Isaacman and his Inspiration4 launch, the rocket and the capsule (Falcon 9 and Dragon) already existed and flight tested, he just had to take care of his end of the bargain and then the rocket was ready to take off.