Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has abruptly canceled his highly anticipated “dearMoon” mission, a circumlunar voyage intended to fly him and eight artists around the moon on SpaceX’s Starship vehicle. Maezawa cited persistent delays and uncertainty about the launch schedule as reasons for his decision.

“Arrangements were being made with SpaceX to target the launch by the end of 2023,” a statement from the dearMoon project explained. “Unfortunately, however, launch within 2023 became unfeasible, and without clear schedule certainty in the near term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project.”

Maezawa, who had signed the contract with SpaceX in 2018 with the expectation that the mission would launch by the end of 2023, expressed his frustration: “I can’t plan my future in this situation, and I feel terrible making the crew members wait longer, hence the difficult decision to cancel at this point in time.”

The dearMoon project was first announced in September 2018, when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk revealed Maezawa as the initial commercial customer for Starship, then known as BFR (Big Falcon Rocket). Maezawa’s significant down payment was meant to substantially support the development of the Starship program. Despite initial optimism, Musk had already warned that the 2023 timeline might be ambitious.

Starship has not yet achieved critical milestones, such as reaching orbit or carrying people. SpaceX is preparing for a fourth integrated test flight of Starship/Super Heavy, now set for no earlier than June 6. This test aims to demonstrate the vehicle’s ability to return both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage to the surface without disintegration.

SpaceX’s primary focus has shifted to meeting NASA’s Human Landing System contract requirements and increasing Starship’s flight rate for Starlink satellite launches. Meanwhile, delays in Starship’s readiness became evident, affecting Maezawa’s ability to proceed with his mission.

The dearMoon project, which only revealed its crew in December 2022, faced skepticism about meeting the 2023 launch goal. Selected crew members expressed their disappointment and frustration following the cancellation announcement. Tim Dodd, known as “Everyday Astronaut,” and Rhiannon Adam, an Irish photographer, shared their discontent and lack of prior consultation about the cancellation. Adam criticized the project’s integrity and timeline, feeling “used” by the abrupt decision.

Despite the cancellation, Maezawa has previously experienced space travel. In December 2021, he and his assistant Yozo Hirano flew to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft through Space Adventures, a space tourism company.

Another commercial lunar mission with Starship remains on the horizon. In October 2022, Dennis Tito, the first commercial space tourist to visit the ISS in 2001, announced plans to fly around the moon with his wife and up to ten others. However, neither Tito nor SpaceX has provided updates or a specific date for this mission.

The cancellation of dearMoon highlights the challenges and uncertainties inherent in pioneering commercial space travel, despite the high hopes and significant investments involved.