Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States used its veto power several times
world3 days ago
On Friday, Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa revealed that K-pop star TOP and DJ Steve Aoki will be among the eight crew members he plans to take on a trip around the moon as soon as next year, hitching a ride on one of Elon Musk's SpaceX rockets.
Maezawa bought every seat on the maiden lunar voyage — which has been in the works since 2018 — and would follow his trip on a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 12-day stint last year.
The picks were announced by Maezawa on Twitter, and at a website for what he dubbed the #dearMoon Project.
The fashion tycoon and his crew would become the first passengers on the SpaceX flyby of the moon, as commercial firms — including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin — usher in a new age of space travel for wealthy clients.
The mission aboard SpaceX's 'Starship' vehicle is scheduled to take eight days from launch to return to earth, including three days circling the moon, coming within 200km from the lunar surface. Though the flight was scheduled for 2023, it is facing delays due to the ongoing tests of the spacecraft and its rockets.
ALSO READ:
Like fellow billionaire Musk, Maezawa has a flair for promotion and an infatuation with Twitter — he has boasted to holding the Guinness world record for the most retweeted post, when he offered a cash prize of 1 million yen ($7300) to 100 winners for retweeting it.
Maezawa used the micro-blogging site to recruit eight crew members from around the world to join him on the moon trip, saying that 1 million people had applied.
TOP, the stage name of Choi Seung Hyun who broke out with the K-pop group Big Bang, is among the higher profile members selected, along with Aoki, a Japanese-American musician and DJ whose father founded the Benihana restaurant chain.
"I feel great pride and responsibility in becoming the first Korean civilian going to the moon," TOP said in a video posted after the announcement.
Indian actor Dev Joshi was also among the picks for the group, comprised largely of artists and photographers. US Olympic snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington and Japanese dancer Miyu were named as backup crew members.
Maezawa, 47, flagged an update to the lunar expedition on Monday, tweeting he'd held an online meeting with Musk and was readying a "big announcement about space."
Maezawa made his fortune founding the online fashion retailer Zozo Inc, in which Softbank Group Corp's internet business is now the top shareholder.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States used its veto power several times
world3 days ago
Super Heavy unexpectedly splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to land
world4 days ago
The 19-year-old dreamt of competing abroad, and said she wanted to be like Ronaldo and Messi
world4 days ago
Hochstein's mission marks a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing US administration to clinch a ceasefire as diplomacy to end the Gaza war appears totally adrift
world5 days ago
This will be his first visit since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia around three years ago
world5 days ago
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world5 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world5 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world6 days ago