Japanese startup attracted $ 90 million for advertising on the moon

Giga wants to install the first billboard on the Earth’s satellite in 2020

A startup from Tokyo, Gigafile, said it had attracted 10.2 billion yen ($ 90 million) from major Japanese companies, including Japan Airlines and Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings. In addition, the project received support from government agencies - INCJ Corporation and the Development Bank of Japan. With the investments received, Giga plans to launch a spacecraft into lunar orbit in 2019, and in 2020 to land the spacecraft on the lunar surface, reports MG .

His goal Giga calls the development of the "lunar economy", especially marketing. At the first stage, the company promises to place advertising logos on its spacecraft, as well as to conduct surveys in space, selling the footage for advertising campaigns.
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In the case of a successful landing on the surface of the moon, a startup will be able to suggest installing billboards on the satellite, said Giga CEO Takeshi Hakamada. In his opinion, many corporations will want them to have their own billboard against the backdrop of the Earth.

Since 2021, the Giga wants to begin the search for water on the moon by sending special ATVs. From it you can get hydrogen fuel, which will support the first lunar settlements. According to the company, the moon can find billions of tons of water, although there is little serious evidence of this. A NASA study released in July 2017 states that there may indeed be large reserves of water under the surface of the moon.

Ispace began working on its project as part of the Lunar Xprize contest, which is sponsored by Alphabet, Google’s parent company. Under the terms of the competition, the first team, which will be able to reach the surface of the moon, will receive $ 20 million. The initiative was launched in 2007. At first, participants had to reach the goal until 2012, but the deadlines were repeatedly postponed due to technical and financial problems of the contestants, reminds Bloomberg.

Plans for space exploration have many private companies. SpaceX Ilona Mask plans in 2018 to send the first space tourists to the flight around the Moon, and in 2024 to begin the colonization of Mars, sending the first expedition there. Startup Moon Express is working on devices that can land on the surface of the moon and collect soil samples.