With Moon as His Muse, Japanese Billionaire Signs Up for SpaceX Voyage

When Yusaku Maezawa took the stage here at one corner of the SpaceX factory floor, he explained that he did not just want to be the first private citizen to circle the moon. “I choose to go to the moon, with artists,” Mr. Maezawa said, echoing President John F. Kennedy’s speech in 1962. 【小题1】

While SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have been significant technological achievements, SpaceX’s engineers have started to turn their attention toward the B.F.R., a much more ambitious vehicle that SpaceX hopes will take Mr. Maezawa to circle the moon. It is a promising project at SpaceX, and is one that would grow rapidly in the coming several years. 【小题2】

Although he would not discuss how much Mr. Maezawa is to pay for his trip, SpaceX’s CEO Mr. Musk made clear it would make a significant contribution to the development costs. 【小题3】 “I don’t think it’s more than 10, and I don’t think it’s less than two,” he said.

Mr. Maezawa said he did not like to be alone and so he would invite five to eight artists and performers to accompany him, part of a project he called Dear Moon. 【小题4】 “Art makes people smile, brings people together.” He said.

When asked whether a trip around the moon was the most beneficial way to spend his fortune, Mr. Maezawa said, “I want to contribute to society in a different way. Maybe 10 years from now, people will be laughing I paid so much, but somebody needs to make the first payment,” he added. “Otherwise, space development is not going to evolve. 【小题5】”