T.O.P Reveals His Stance on Canceled dearMoon Project: 'My Dream Is By No Means Over'

On June 1, the dearMoon project, widely regarded as the first private circum-lunar flight, announced its cancellation via an official statement.

The project, spearheaded by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa, was a pioneering effort aiming to take a crew of artists and cultural influencers on a week-long journey around the moon.

In the announcement, the dearMoon team expressed their regret.

"It is unfortunate to be announcing that 'dearMoon', the first private circum-lunar flight project, will be canceled. We thank everyone who has supported us and apologize to those who have looked forward to this project."

Among the notable figures who were part of this ambitious venture was T.O.P, a former member of the South Korean band BIGBANG. He took to his personal social media account to share his thoughts and feelings regarding the cancellation.

"As you may have heard, the 'dearMoon' project has unfortunately been canceled.

However, I am deeply grateful to Mr. Yusaku Maezawa for conceptualizing the 'dearMoon' project. This was the greatest and most beautiful art project for the development of mankind that no one in the world would have dared to imagine, and the courage to even attempt this mission was truly extraordinary to witness.

My dream is by no means over."

Reflecting on his personal journey with dearMoon, T.O.P expressed profound gratitude for the experiences and connections he made.

"Being selected as a 'dearMoon' crew member was one of the greatest honors of my life. My heart is full of gratitude for the experiences I gained and the friendships I made through this process.

Over the last few years since joining 'dearMoon', I feel that my body and soul have forged a deep, direct connection with the moon. My body and soul connected with the moon and space has already inspired me to compose a lot of new music.

The moon has and will continue to nourish my soul and fill me up with meaning and inspiration forever."

He emphasized that his aspiration to travel to the moon remains alive.

"My dream to travel to the moon is not over. It has become the ultimate and greatest goal of my life, an official challenge, and a core mission for my life.

I feel deep responsibility for all the people who cheered for and supported me through this process to make them proud."

The dearMoon project was initially announced in 2022 as a collaboration between Yusaku Maezawa and SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transport company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The mission aimed to send eight crew members, including T.O.P, on a groundbreaking journey around the moon aboard a SpaceX-developed spacecraft.

However, the ambitious project faced significant challenges. In November of the previous year, the dearMoon team announced a delay, citing ongoing spacecraft development as the primary reason for postponing the launch, which had been scheduled for late 2023.

After about six months of continued efforts, the project ultimately reported its cancellation.

Despite this setback, the spirit of the dearMoon project endures in the hearts of its participants and supporters.

The dream of private lunar travel has inspired many and continues to push the boundaries of human imagination and ambition.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Cassidy Jones.