All you have to do is fill in an application form
In 2018, Elon Musk announced that the first-ever tourist on the moon would be skateboarding, drumming, art collecting billionaire Yasaku Maezawa, who’s due to make the journey in 2023. Now, he’s taking applications for those who want to join him.
The 45-year-old is giving eight lucky members of the public “free tickets to the moon”. All you have to do is fill in an online application form, which literally just requires your name, email address, and a photo. You also have to say which of Maezawa’s social media accounts you follow.
Maezawa is going to the moon as part of the dearMoon project, a lunar tourism mission and art project conceived by Maezawa himself. The trip will be undertaken on a private SpaceX Starship.
In a video shared on YouTube, Maezawa said: “I’m inviting you to join me on this mission. Eight of you from all around the world. I want people from all kinds of backgrounds to join.” He explained that it would take three days to get to the moon, “loop behind it”, and then three more days to get back.
Maezawa originally wanted artists to join him on the trip, but said he decided to open applications up to the public after deciding that “if you see yourself as an artist, then you’re an artist”. There are two criteria for securing your place, though. “First of all,” Maezawa continued, “whatever activity you are into, by going to space, I hope that you can push its envelope to help other people and greater society in some way.”
The other criteria? “You have to be willing and able to support other crew members who share similar aspirations.”
Speaking about the trip, Musk added: “What’s really significant about the dearMoon mission is that it will be the first commercial spaceflight with humans beyond Earth’s orbit. And we’re going to go past the moon, so this mission will go further than any human has ever gone from planet Earth.”
For those worried about travel costs to the moon, Maezawa has confirmed that he will be paying for the entire journey. “I have bought all the seats, so it will be a private ride,” he explained.
Watch Maezawa and Musk’s message below, and apply for your “free ticket to the moon” here.