SpaceX Moon Tour Astronaut to ISS First

SpaceX and Maezawa's Journey to Space

The aspirations of SpaceX in the realm of private spaceflight received significant momentum in 2018. This occurred when Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese entrepreneur and billionaire, revealed his intention to embark on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission. The planned flight is a round-trip journey that will orbit the moon.

Currently, Maezawa remains on schedule for this lunar mission, anticipated to occur by 2023. However, his enthusiasm for space travel is such that he has recently announced an additional trip. He will visit the International Space Station as a private astronaut this December.

Aboard a Russian Soyuz

Maezawa will be traveling as a client of Space Adventures. His journey will utilize a Russian Soyuz rocket, scheduled for launch from Kazakhstan on December 8th. He will be joined by Yozo Hirano, his production assistant.

Space Adventures has a proven track record in commercial spaceflights via Soyuz. They previously facilitated missions for individuals like Anousheh Ansari in 2006 and Guy Laliberté in 2009.

Resumption of Space Tourism

Laliberté’s flight represented the most recent commercial venture to the ISS before space tourism was paused. This pause followed the conclusion of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, as Soyuz became the sole access point to the station.

With SpaceX now conducting regular astronaut transport missions, opportunities for tourist travel to the ISS have been revived.

Details of the Upcoming Mission

Maezawa’s upcoming trip is planned to last 12 days. He will undergo three months of training in Russia to prepare for the experience.

This mission marks several firsts. It will be the first private astronaut visit to the ISS in over a decade. Furthermore, it will be the first instance of two private astronauts flying together on a Soyuz spacecraft.

Maezawa and Hirano will also be the first Japanese citizens to undertake such a journey as private individuals.

Motivation and Documentation

Some might consider two space visits as a private astronaut excessive. However, Maezawa expresses a strong desire to understand “what life is like in space.”

This firsthand experience will be valuable preparation for his planned mission to the moon. That mission will involve a three-day transit to the moon, a circumlunar orbit, and a three-day return trip.

Maezawa intends to share his experiences on YouTube. This is the reason for Hirano’s accompaniment, to document the entire journey.