In December 2022, the K-pop world buzzed with excitement as news broke that T.O.P would be part of a project named “Dear Moon.” This venture, led by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX program, was meant to take eight influencers on a week-long lunar journey.

The mission, initially set for the end of 2023, faced an unexpected setback. Last month, a Kyunghee University professor specializing in space exploration, confirmed to media outlets that the mission had been postponed again. Why? Because of some problems surrounding SpaceX’s Starship, the rocket designated for this historic journey.

T.O.P took to Instagram earlier this month, confirming the delay. Apparently, an incident involving the SpaceX Starship rocket caused this setback. In its maiden test flight the rocket exploded at approximately 38 km above Earth’s surface due to engine failure.

T.O.P will still join the Dear Moon mission

Despite the explosion, the flight was an important milestone for Elon Musk and SpaceX. The rocket achieved lift-off and covered around 40 percent of the distance to the Karman line, the boundary of space 100 km above Earth. The data gathered from this flight is invaluable for future tests, which are essential for the the Dear Moon mission’s success.

SpaceX is preparing for a second test flight, tentatively scheduled for late 2023. However, multiple U.S. government agencies need to approve a test flight before the tentative late 2023 schedule can proceed. The success of this second flight, and a subsequent uncrewed mission to Lunar orbit and back, are critical steps before the Dear Moon mission can proceed.

T.O.P‘s Instagram Stories reflect his optimism. One story hinted at the possibility of the next test taking place in mid-November. Another story featured an article about Starship’s next flight, accompanied by a hopeful caption, “The best is yet to come.” So while T.O.P and his fans might have to wait a little longer for this extraordinary adventure, his participation in the mission remains a certainty. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Despite the delays, T.O.P remains committed and enthusiastic. Source: X/@puTOPinamo.