Japanese fashion tycoon Yusaku Maezawa is set to rocket to space on December 8 on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft together with producer Yozo Hirano, who will film his mission and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.
"I've been alive for 45 years and have not experienced anything like that. I felt awkward at first," he said via a translator at a news conference, where he appeared alongside his assistant and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.
Tom Shelley, the president of Space Adventures, said Maezawa compiled a list of 100 things to do in space during the 12-day mission after asking the public for ideas.
"His intention is to try to share the experience of what it means to be in space with the general public," Shelley said in an interview with The Associated Press, adding that it will include simple things about daily life to maybe some other fun activities, to more serious questions as well.
Maezawa and his film producer will be the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009.
Maezawa has made his fortune in fashion retail, launching Japan’s largest online fashion mall, Zozotown. His net worth is currently estimated at $2 billion by Forbes magazine.
"I've been alive for 45 years and have not experienced anything like that. I felt awkward at first," he said via a translator at a news conference, where he appeared alongside his assistant and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.
Tom Shelley, the president of Space Adventures, said Maezawa compiled a list of 100 things to do in space during the 12-day mission after asking the public for ideas.
"His intention is to try to share the experience of what it means to be in space with the general public," Shelley said in an interview with The Associated Press, adding that it will include simple things about daily life to maybe some other fun activities, to more serious questions as well.
Maezawa and his film producer will be the first self-paying tourists to visit the space station since 2009.
Maezawa has made his fortune in fashion retail, launching Japan’s largest online fashion mall, Zozotown. His net worth is currently estimated at $2 billion by Forbes magazine.
