Why SpaceX's billionaire space tourist is taking artists to the moon

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] It has been 50 years since Apollo 8 achieved a lunar orbit in 1968. The time has come For civilians to fly to the moon. In 2023, SpaceX will launch the worlds first private lunar mission, with it's spacecraft the FR. The first passenger would be a Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. A globally renowned art collector who believes art has the power to promote world peace, Maezawa made a bold decision. [MUSIC] A painter, photographer, musician, film director, fashion designer, [UNKNOWN] Will invite artists that represent Earth on his journey to the moon. [MUSIC] The distance to the moon is 240,000 miles. [MUSIC] The crew will spend a week in space. [MUSIC] What will they feel when they see the moon? When they see Earth in full view? And what will they create? Their works will certainly become a legacy for humankind. An awe inspiring, global. The universal art project is about to begin. Dear moon. [MUSIC] Private customers, or any customers for BFR are incredibly helpful in funding the development of the rocket. That's where I'd like to introduce the first paying customer of BFR. [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] I am from Japan. My name is Yusaku Maezawa. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally I can say I'm very glad to be here. And I really exciting and really honored, really appreciate to be able to share with, to be share this announcement with you. And people all over the world. Why do I want to go to the moon? For me, this project is very meaningful. I thought long and hard about how valuable it would be become the first private passenger to go to the moon. At the same time I thought about how I can give up to the world and how this can contribute to world peace. This is my lifelong dream. That is why I could not pass up this opportunity to see the moon up close. I choose to go to the moon with artists. [APPLAUSE] From now, I choose to invite artists from around the world on my journey. Just thinking about it now gets my heart racing. This is a process that I designed and named dearMoon. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] I'd like to invite six to eight artists from around the world to join me on this mission to the Moon. These artists will be asked to create something after they return to Earth. At the moment, I have not decided which artists I'd like to invite. But if possible, I would like to reach out to top artists that represent our planet from various spheres. Including Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, Musicians, Film Directors, Fashion Designers, Architects etc. [APPLAUSE] Thank you very much. [APPLAUSE] And thank you, [INAUDIBLE] and the [INAUDIBLE] team for making today possible and very exciting. Thank you very much, that's all. Thank you. [APPLAUSE]