Cork woman chosen as crew member of Elon Musk's civilian trip to the moon

Rhiannon Adam, a 37-year-old Cork native has been chosen to travel around the moon as part of SpaceX’s upcoming project.

The Cork-born photographic artist was announced as one of nine other astronauts who have been selected to man the dearMoon project, beating out hundreds of other applicants from 249 countries.

The lunar mission, financed by Yusaku Maezawa, will see eight others join the Japanese billionaire on a flight around the moon aboard the SpaceX flight before returning to earth.

According to Maezawa the mission- which was also conceived as an art project- has said that he expects the experience of space tourism to inspire the crew in the creation of their art. Works inspired by the trip are expected to be exhibited after the crew have returned home.

The trip, which is expected to last six days in total, is due to launch in 2023.

The Cork woman’s motive behind her application was her “craving for adventure” whilst in the midst of the pandemic.

The mission, which will make her the first Irish person in space, Ms Adam has anticipated to be life-changing.

Speaking of her mixed emotions surrounding her upcoming expedition, from overwhelming excitement, to being relatively uncomfortable exposing herself to the public eye- she spoke of always having been someone who valued her anonymity.

"I really value my anonymity and I've never been an attention-seeker. I like to hide behind my work.”

"So I think my greatest fear was the process of all of this, the life change that that implies,” she added.

“I’m excited and filled with trepidation in equal measure.”

The private mission’s spaceship is being built by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company.

If early test flights of the projectMoon craft are successful, Rhiannon and Maezawa will be joined by Steve Aoki and South Korean rapper Choi Seung Hyun as part of the first crew of private citizens to venture beyond low-Earth orbit.

I am so thrilled to announce my participation in the #dearMoon project with my selection as #dearMoonCrew - here’s my profile page, I hope you enjoy. Thank you to @yousuck2020 and my fellow crew - let’s have an adventure! pic.twitter.com/e3T73zKzyk

— Rhiannon Adam (@blackbirdsfly) December 8, 2022