Dubai: SpaceX is ready to fly you to the moon and back! A tweet by the US-based aerospace company started a Twitter frenzy.
The company account, @Spacex, posted an illustration of their new Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) launch vehicle going around the moon. The tweet read: “SpaceX has signed the world’s first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle — an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space. Find out who’s flying and why on Monday, September 17.”
A follow-up tweet read: “Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history. No one has visited since the last Apollo mission in 1972.”
SpaceX has signed the world’s first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard our BFR launch vehicle—an important step toward enabling access for everyday people who dream of traveling to space. Find out who’s flying and why on Monday, September 17. pic.twitter.com/64z4rygYhk
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 14, 2018
Only 24 humans have been to the Moon in history. No one has visited since the last Apollo mission in 1972. https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 14, 2018
As soon as the announcement was made, tweeps shared ecstatic reactions.
@OLHZN tweeted: “Oooooo, this is exciting. Can’t wait!”
Oooooo, this is exciting. Can't wait! pic.twitter.com/JwB4CMaxqG
— OLHZN Space Balloons (@OLHZN) September 14, 2018
The entire space community online right now pic.twitter.com/XvvPCuRIMC
— You Are Go For Staging (@GoForStaging) September 14, 2018
— sǝʇuɐɯɐןɐʇ sınl (@LuisTalamantes_) September 14, 2018
But the obvious question was: Who is the passenger? The most common guess from Twitter users was founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk.
As several Twitter users tweeted directly to Musk, asking, “it’s you, isn’t it?”, Musk’s responded with a hint. Replying to Twitter user @AntVenom’s query, he posted an emoji of the Japanese flag.
Elon, it’s you, isn’t it? 😂
— Taylor Harris (@AntVenom) September 14, 2018
🇯🇵
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2018
So the passenger is Japanese?
— Dana Hull (@danahull) September 14, 2018
This cryptic response led to all sorts of guesses from Twitter users on who the Japanese client might be.
Tweep @stephenpallotta felt it would be billionaire Takemitsu Takizaki: “My bet is on Takemitsu Takizaki. Takizaki roughly worth $8.8 billion, big in tech, and well ... he’s from Japan. haha.”
My bet is on Takemitsu Takizaki. Takizaki roughly worth 8.8 Billion, big in tech, and well... he's from Japan haha.
— Stephen Pallotta (@stephenpallotta) September 14, 2018
Another tweep @Robotbeat placed his bets on businessman Daisuke Enomoto, who has long aspired to be a space tourist.
Probably Daisuke Enomoto
— Chris (Robotbeat)🗽🖖🏾 (@Robotbeat) September 14, 2018
a Japanese businessman and former livedoor executive who hoped to become the fourth space tourist. He had trained at Star City, Moscow in Russia to fly with two members of Expedition 14 on board Soyuz TMA-9, which was launched on September 18, 2006.
— Chris (Robotbeat)🗽🖖🏾 (@Robotbeat) September 14, 2018
Apart from the guessing game, Twitter users and space enthusiasts commented on the new design of the ‘Big Falcon Rocket’, which Musk had announced would be used in its manned mission to Mars.
Tweep @FalconGridFin asked Musk if this was a new version of the BFR, to which Musk tweeted, “Yes.”
@FalconGridFin commented on how the design looked straight out of the comic Tintin, to which Musk responded: “Intentionally so”.
Is that render a new version of BFR??
— Griddy McGridfinFace (@FalconGridFin) September 14, 2018
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2018
Very tintin-esque!
— Griddy McGridfinFace (@FalconGridFin) September 14, 2018
Intentionally so
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2018
Other users commented on the engineering and design from the illustration. Tweep @DavidHoltkamp wrote: “Did you see all the engines are firing in vacuum! That is definitely a new engine configuration.”
Did you see all the engines are firing in Vacuum! That is definitely a new engine config.
— David Holtkamp (@DavidHoltkamp) September 14, 2018
@terrellwhited added: “Not just bigger, it looks like they have completely reworked the wing configuration and thrown in a tail fin - all tapered back past the rear fuselage. Almost like that’s what it will land on ...”
Not just bigger, it looks like they've completely reworked the wing configuration and threw in a tail fin- all tapered back past the rear fuselage. Almost like that's what it will land on...
— Advicut (@terrellwhited) September 14, 2018
Another user calling himself @AeroSpaceKnight wrote: “I think the impact of the image they have provided is going unnoticed ... @elonmusk the design has that severely 50s/60s sci-fi feel, nicely done!”
I think the impact of the image they have provided is going unnoticed...@elonmusk the design has that severely 50s/60s sci-fi feel, nicely done!
— Aero_Knight (Carlos) (@AeroSpaceKnight) September 14, 2018
Other users were simply excited about how this might be a turning point in history.
@dimas wrote: “Science fiction becomes reality”
Science fiction becomes reality
— DIMAS (@dimas_______) September 14, 2018
@mario82mata had a suggestion for SpaceX to accommodate people who might not be able to afford the ticket. She tweeted: “Just a suggestion, make a lottery for one seat! You will earn more and you give us a chance to make our dream come true!”
Just a suggestion, make a lottery for one seat! You will earn more and you give us a chance to make our dream come true!
— Mario Mata (@mario82mata) September 14, 2018
— Luis Kuronya (@LKuronya) September 14, 2018
Another Twitter user @YoungDino_ had some advice for the passenger and SpaceX: “You better take HD video of the other side of the moon.”
You better take HD video of the other side of the moon 👽
— Skinny Dean (@YoungDino_) September 14, 2018