【2002 Archives】

SpaceX revealed the first passenger its signed up to fly to the moon002 ArchivesMonday for one very expensive art project.

The Elon Musk-founded company will send 42-year-old Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa into deep space, but he doesn't want to take the trip all on his own. The entrepreneur hopes to bring along "six to eight artists" who will capture the experience on a four to five day mission in 2023.

SEE ALSO: Take a look at the first space suit that let Americans walk in space

If all goes according to plan, Maezawa will be the first non-American to orbit the moon.

Here's what we know about him and his larger-than-life lunar ambitions:

Who is Yusaku Maezawa?

A skateboarder and former drummer in a hardcore band called Switch Style, Maezawa is now the 18th richest person in Japan with a net worth of $2.9 billion according to Forbes.

He is the founder of Start Today, a mail-order CD and record business he founded in 1998, which expanded into the online fashion business with Zozotown in 2004. Last year, the site boasted 7.2 million customers.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Maezawa is not shy when it comes to spending his riches, as evidenced when he made headlines for shelling out a record $110.5 million for Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1982 painting of a skull last year. At another auction in 2016, he spent $81 million in one night.

His love for Basquiat was something he echoed in the press conference, when he wore a t-shirt featuring a painting by the artist, and also spoke of his work. Basquiat died in 1988.

"One day, when I was staring at his painting, I thought, what if Basquiat had gone to space, and had seen the moon up close, or saw Earth in full view. What wonderful masterpiece could he have created?" he said.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Why does he want to go to the moon?

Maezawa said his interest in the moon started as a child.

"Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the moon," he said. "Just staring at the moon filled my imagination. It's always there and has always continued to inspire humanity."

But he doesn't want to go alone either. He's taking along artists representing Earth who will contribute to a project called #DearMoon.

He will first reach out to artists that he loves to see if they'd like to go, but it'll be open to painters, sculptors, film directors, architects, fashion designers, and others.

"I love art. And I'm very much looking forward to seeing what different artists getting together could bring to life," he said.

According to the project schedule on DearMoon's website, selection of the artists will begin this year, with training and preparation to take place before planned liftoff in 2023.

"He is the bravest person and the most willing to do so, and he was the best adventurer I think," Musk said of Maezawa.

"He stepped forward to do it. To be clear, we are honored that he would choose us. This is not us choosing him... He is a very brave person to do this."

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Maezawa has made a down payment on the trip, but declined to reveal how much he spent in total.

Musk said the money spent on the trip will help to fund the BFR's development, with the goal of one day opening up space travel to the average person.

The artists would be travelling for free, and an exhibition will take place on Earth sometime after the trip finishes.

As for Musk, he's not sure when he'll go to space, even though Maezawa extended the invitation to him.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Why BMW's riderless bike is less badass than you might think

---

• Digital Culture
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Deals
• Games
• Life
• Science
• Tech

• Best Sony headphones deal: Over $100 off Sony XM5 headphones
• Former Facebook exec says network is 'destroying how social works'
• 'Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery' lets you attend Hogwarts
• Internet pioneers call on Congress to save net neutrality
• Best roborock deal: Save $400 on Q5 Pro+ Robot Vacuum and Mop
• All 11 Star Wars movies, ranked
• What to do if Jimmy Kimmel's baby has made you cry
• Billie Lourd pays tribute to Carrie Fisher at 'Last Jedi' premiere
• Best Apple deal: Save $19 on AirTag 4
• Louis Tomlinson fans abuse radio host on Twitter after facial hair joke

• Aussie bros who wore Malaysian flag undies sent home without conviction
• Escape from the tech hype machine: Meerkat's founders look beyond livestreaming
• One brave man is trying to restore humanity's faith in clowns
• Oculus: 1 million people use VR every month
• Stunning animated game helps teach endangered Aboriginal language
• First grader makes astute observation upon meeting Donald Trump
• It's fall, so we contoured our faces and went bobbing for apples
• 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' on hold after Kim was robbed at gunpoint
• Mediocre mystery derails 'The Girl on the Train,' which is no 'Gone Girl'
• Netflix original movies are coming to the big screen

• Sony PULSE Elite PS5 headset open
• Watch what could happen if you forget to water your Christmas tree
• 'The Last Jedi' first reactions from premiere
• Oh man, oh geez, 'Rick and Morty' gets an Avengers
• The Kindle Scribe just dropped to its lowest price ever, but is it worth it?
• 'The Last Jedi' first reactions from premiere
• Global warming is pushing the Arctic into 'unprecedented' era
• Twitter makes tweetstorms and long threads an official part of its app
• NYT Strands hints, answers for April 14
• 'The Christmas Prince' and more cheesy Netflix Christmas movies

• The fat bears are already extremely fat
• Ethereum's price surpasses $700 in another astonishing crypto
• Watch what could happen if you forget to water your Christmas tree
• Billie Lourd pays tribute to Carrie Fisher at 'Last Jedi' premiere
• 8 Years Later: Does the GeForce GTX 580 Still Have Game in 2018?
• The last great internet debate of 2017 is: How should you cut your toast?
• 2018 Golden Globe nominations: See full list
• Santa on 'SNL' has some thoughts about Roy Moore
• 'Thunderbolts*' mid
• Bitcoin price surges to almost $17,000 as trading begins on ‘futures’ exchange