Okay, this posting is JUST for fun, but...........who knows maybe one of you will apply. James? Notice the deadline, though.
A Japanese billionaire is taking applications for an expense-paid trip to the moon. My only advice is to make sure the transportation method is well tested by then.
Do you need a Covid test?
... "the entrepreneur and art collector admitted he fears what lies before him, but expects his curiosity to overcome the terror. "
Wonder if he'll allow an open jaw ...
If the journey departs and then re-enters in the US, then I would guess those from the US would not even need passports??
The return would give a whole new meaning to the term "global entry," har, har, har.
So are there going to be 5-star accommodations? Or more like Billions and Billions of stars?
Americans are probably going to try to beat Russians to be the first on this trip to the moon.
What kind of dining options will there be? It would be nice to find a restaurant with a good atmosphere.
And water - will that be still, or sparkling?
If you’re not doing public transportation, and want to rent a Lunar Rover, are those left or right hand drive? Can you get an automatic? I think they’re open-top, so are convertibles a lot more expensive? Is parking going to be a problem?
What is a good brand of Moon Boot? So I bring more than one pair? What kind of space suit do I wear that won’t make me look like a tourist?
If I had the money and was younger, yes, I would do it. I doubt if this will be a reality for space tourism for several decades.
I was ready to sign up, but then i realized I would need a COVID test to re-enter the US. But I will add Moon to the list of places currently open to US tourists.
For a small group together it can be a smart economical choice to use taxis instead of mass transit - but be sure to go from an official stand and not just wave down any vehicle that happens to be flying by.
What a great sense of humor each of you has!!
I just came in from a grueling morning of spring weeding, and you definitely put a smile on my face with all the humorous postings :)
I'm not a big fan of organized tours. I'd much rather do it independently. But no doubt the day I arrive, there'll be all kinds of cruise ships orbiting the moon and sending launches to the surface. And everyone will want to stand in front of Tranquility Bay for a photo op, blocking the view and ruining the effect.
While you're all on the moon, I'm going to Europe, where it'll be much less crowded!
No quarantining needed upon return ... astronauts originally had to do that, but not anymore. When you get back to Earth, you just have to prove you had a Space Shot.
Ohhhh, excellent!!
I added it: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/what-is-open-in-europe-and-beyond
... er, make that Moon Shot.
And if any shops try to sell you the local cheese, it’s a rip-off. Moon is not made of cheese. Don’t try to smuggle any moon rocks hone in your luggage, either. Customs now has rock-sniffing dogs!
Good one, tdw. And Saturn runs rings around Earth’s moon, too. In fact Saturn has many moons of its own!
I’d be afraid of those whacky cows jumping over the moon jumping in the jet rocket lane!
If it is, as they say, Only a Paper Moon! Make certain to contain your campfires.
I hope folks learn from yesterday's SpaceX fire, crash, and explosion landing Starship rocket SN10.
If it would be possible, it’s probably better to do a lunar trip in the off-season. But what season would that be, first quarter, half, full, or last quarter?
I know, those moon phases are only relative when viewed from Earth, but then the “best” time to go to Europe is relative, too, depending on one’s preferences for certain conditions. Crowds? Festivals? Cruise ships? I doubt that the moon will have any of those any time soon.
Don’t do a day trip to the Ocean of Storms, though. The discounted lodging prices don’t make up for the dismal conditions. The beach there sucks.
The 250,000 Mile High Club?
Too funny, Mike!
OK, a practical consideration: luggage. As with any travel, compact baggage is ideal - with space travel it’s essential. For the Moon, a rolling bag’s probably a liability. Crater rims, rocky and dusty surfaces, those are not the best for little wheels.
But with less gravity than on Earth, traveling light isn’t such a concern. In fact, a few lead bars could be essential, in with the undies and a toothbrush, to keep luggage from floating away. Just make sure your bag is properly labeled, so there’s no confusion with the other passengers’ bags.
They probably won’t let any liquids be brought aboard; even 3 oz./100 ml in a container would be too much.
I knew there would be humorous replies, but you all have outdone yourselves. Great humor! Very witty replies!
Cyn, you could seriously have a career in improv (at least a fun side-gig) :)
..........or RS suction cups for storing travel gear on board? (Do suction cups even work in space? We need Howard from The Big Bang Theory to weigh in on this.)
EDIT to add:
Well, Google was faster than waiting for Howard:
"Space is a vacuum, and there's no atmosphere, and no atmospheric pressure. Because there's no atmosphere, there's no outside pressure to create suction. So, despite their usefulness to us on earth, suction cups can't help astronauts in space."
Space is a vacuum, and there's no atmosphere, and no atmospheric pressure. Because there's no atmosphere, there's no outside pressure to create suction. So, despite their usefulness to us on earth, suction cups can't help astronauts in space."
But your spaceship will be pressurized as well as your lodging so take those RS suction clotheslines!
Well, The Man in the Moon just tweeted that he requires a Covid negative test 4 days prior to Moon landing. Also, Please note there is a departure tax of 50 ML ( moon pounds) to be paid in cash on date of departure. Exchange rate is 10US to 1ML.
Diane, since the Moon’s gravity is 1/6 that of Earth, wouldn’t the conversion rate be 1 Moon Pound = 6 Earth Pounds? And when did they switch from Lunas to ML?
Should we bring some cash with us before we reach the Moon, or wait and use an ATM after landing? Does NASA charge an exorbitant exchange rate? Huh ... the word “orbit” is in the middle of “exorbitant” ... there’s the answer!
Maggie, thanks for finding and posting this thread! You got things off to a humorous start, and set off everybody’s thoughts, and levity ensued. Peoples’ responses have left me with a grin, kind of like a crescent moon!
I’ll leave with these last questions: Is a day and a half adequate time to see the moon, or should we plan on a longer stay? And should we stick to the popular places, or is it worth seeing the Dark Side, too? Group tour, or Private Guide.
I’d be afraid of those whacky cows jumping over the moon jumping in the jet rocket lane!
If there were a cow overhead, which lane it was in, would not be my first concern about it.
