Cryptocurrency billionaire from 2025 SpaceX mission tapped for Mars flyby

SpaceX has selected cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang to lead its upcoming crewed missions, including a historic flyby of Mars and a preceding lunar orbit. The Mars mission, planned as a two-year voyage without landing, will be the first crewed interplanetary flight ever. Wang previously commanded the Fram2 mission in April 2025, a four-day private spaceflight around Earth’s poles launched from Florida. The announcement came on May 21, coinciding with the debut of Starship’s next-generation prototype at SpaceX’s Starbase headquarters in South Texas. The 407-foot Starship, now in its 12th flight test, will serve as the spacecraft for both missions. Before the Mars flyby, SpaceX intends to conduct a lunar flyby, bringing astronauts closer to the moon’s surface—less than 125 miles—than NASA’s Artemis II mission, which flew over 4,067 miles above the lunar surface. Wang’s role was confirmed in a video shared by SpaceX, where he spoke from Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. He emphasized the mission’s significance, stating that Mars would no longer be a distant dream but a tangible reality. The Mars mission aligns with SpaceX’s broader goals, including potential moon landings for NASA and plans to build a lunar city, though Musk has not abandoned Mars colonization entirely. The mission details remain fluid, with no confirmed launch date. SpaceX’s focus on Starship development continues as it prepares for future crewed flights, including the upcoming lunar flyby. Wang’s experience from Fram2 positions him as a key figure in advancing private space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.