A WOMAN set for a galactic voyage to the Moon onboard Elon Musk’s space rocket says she’s not at all scared – but is dreading just one thing.
Rhiannon Adam beat millions of applications to become one of just eight creatives from across the world selected for the historic mission.
Rhiannon Adam will become one of the first citizens to enter into orbit next year onboard Elon Musk’s space rocketPA
ReutersRhiannon beat millions of applications to become one of just eight creatives chosen for the historic mission[/caption]
The dearMoon project was launched by billionaire Yusaku Maezawa (L) and Elon Musk’s SpaceXPA
The Irish photographer will join DJ megastar Steve Aoki and South Korean rapper T.O.P inside the SpaceX shuttle when it blasts into orbit next year.
The 37-year-old, who lives in London, told The Sun Online: “I’m not scared at all. Fear has never really crossed my mind.
“But then again it’s all very nice while I’m sitting here in Hackney, if you asked me that as the rocket was about to take off and everything is shaking?
“I might have something different to say.”
The dearMoon project – the first ever civilian mission to the moon – was launched by billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in 2018.
The Japanese fashion exec – worth $1.7 billion – asked creatives to apply and handpicked the crew to join him on a six day tour.
The 47-year-old had 25,000 applications from women to be his girlfriend for the trip.
While in orbit the creatives will set about doing their own projects, and Rhiannon hopes Steve Aoki blasts out a few intergalactic DJ sets.
The photographer plans to experiment with her cameras, using different methods while in outer space.
“I don’t imagine we will be sitting there watching Netflix or playing board games but who knows”, she stressed.
Rhiannon admits it was a huge challenge keeping the mission – which still doesn’t have a launch date – under wraps.
The creative, who grew up in rural Ireland, explained: “Once my family and friends got over the fact that I wasn’t pulling their legs, they were surprisingly unperturbed by it.
“My mum was really excited, and asked if I could sneak her into my bag.”
And while not worried of the blast off – there is one thing Rhiannon is a tad concerned about.
“I will also miss going to the toilet”, the rookie astronaut revealed.
While in space, astronauts relieve themselves into a suction funnel which is pressed tightly against their skin so nothing leaks out.
“It’s quite grim”, she joked.
“If you’ve ever watched anything to do with space, it involves suction – so I’ll leave you with that.”
She’ll also miss her regular cuppas which have her flicking on the kettle every ten minutes.
One or two pilots will steer the shuttle – called Starship (yet to be approved for flight) – and will take the crew to the dark side of the moon.
Pink Floyd’s seminal album of the same name would be appropriate listening in Space, Rhiannon chimed, as would Rocketman by Elton John.
She’s even had her pals asking to create a Spotify playlist for her, but she’s vowed to listen to childhood favourite Nanci Griffith and calming podcasts.
But she rejected The Sun Online’s request to do a TikTok video as she cruises through space at 16,000mph.
Maezawa – aka MZ – revealed the crew of eight in a statement on Friday.
They are: Rhiannon Adam, Steve Aoki, T.O.P, Brendan Hall, Tim Dodd, Karim Iliya, who is British, Yemi A.D and Dev Joshi.
Two backup members dancer Miyu, and snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington will fill in in the case of dropouts.
Rhiannon concluded: “I am still in that faze of analysing ‘why me’? I have no idea what it was that got me there.
“I should have played the lottery more because the odds of getting this were so slim that I think, wow, maybe this was my one bit of luck in life and I’m going to be terribly unlucky for ever more.”
ReutersDJ icon Steve Aoki will be onboard Starship – and Rhiannon hopes he blasts a few intergalactic sets to keep them entertained[/caption]
ReutersTOP, the stage name of Choi Seung, is one of the eight main crew members[/caption]
ReutersBritish photographer Karim Iliya will blast off alongside Rhiannon[/caption]
ReutersIndian actor Dev D. Joshi will take a sat inside the shuttle[/caption]
ReutersAmerican YouTuber Tim Dodd will don a spacesuit and join the crew too[/caption]
ReutersMulti-disciplinary creative Yemi A.D is from the Czech Republic[/caption]
ReutersUS filmmaker Brendan Hall will jump inside the capsule for six days as part of the crew[/caption] Read More