REVEALED: Crypto pioneer Justin Sun says he is the mystery bidder who paid $28 million for seat on Blue Origin’s orbit flight – but canceled it due to ‘scheduling conflict’ – and he still plans to go to space
- Justin Sun, 31, revealed he is the anonymous bidder who paid $28 million for the first crewed spaceflight by Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin
- The auction started in May, offering up a seat on the rocket, and closed in June
- Sun had to cancel his trip due to ‘scheduling conflicts’ and his seat was give to 18-year-old Oliver Daemen who also participated in the auction
- Now, Sun is set to take the flight in Q4 2022 and take five people with him
Cryptocurrency pioneer Justin Sun, 31, revealed he is the anonymous bidder who paid $28 million for the first crewed spaceflight by Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin.
The pioneer was originally set to soar on the first Blue Origin flight on July 20 that included Bezos, his brother and Wally Funk, but due to ‘scheduling conflict, Sun’s seat was taken by 18-year-old Oliver Daemen.
Sun, however, is now cashing in on his winnings and is planning a new flight for the fourth quarter of 2022 that will include him and five other crewmates who the entrepreneur will nominate over the next few months.
‘I won the auction six months ago but missed the launch. However, this did not stop my love for space,’ Sun said in a tweet on Wednesday.
‘So I’m very excited to announce this news and turn this opportunity into a voyage with five other warriors to space with me because I believe that space belongs to everyone!’
Scroll down for video
Cryptocurrency pioneer Justin Sun, 31, revealed he is the anonymous bidder who paid $28 million for the first crewed spaceflight by Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin
Sun, who is originally from China, shot to fame for his take on cryptocurrencies and when he won an auction for lunch with Warren Buffett for about $4.6 million in 2019.
He also announced last week that he had been appointed the representative for the Caribbean country Grenada to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
‘With the rapid development of commercial aerospace, entering space may become a dream that every person can realize in his or her lifetime,’ Sun said in a statement.
‘We are entering the era of great spaceflight. This great journey requires more people to get involved.
Sun is now cashing in on his winnings and is planning a new flight for the fourth quarter of 2022 that will include him and five other crewmates who the entrepreneur will nominate over the next few months
Sun said on Twitter that he will personally select the five individuals as a part of a campaign called Sea of Stars, which was established to ‘convey that Earth is where the chapter of human life starts for our future generations, not where it ends
‘The initiative of Blue Origin to take more people to space to see Earth as our singular common home is extraordinary.
‘Club for the Future offers a way to use that experience to inspire youth around the world to dream and act on their dreams of science, technology, and space exploration. I felt compelled to help further that vision through my bid.’
Sun said on Twitter that he will personally select the five individuals as a part of a campaign called Sea of Stars, which was established to ‘convey that Earth is where the chapter of human life starts for our future generations, not where it ends,’ according a press release.
The first nominee will be a leader in the crypto world, as well as the Metaverse, and all names will be released gradually over the next year.
The group also includes leaders of Sun’s TRON, a cryptocurrency platform he founded in March 2014.
TRON is a decentralized, open-source blockchain-based operating system.
The pioneer was originally set to soar on the first Blue Origin flight on July 20 that included Bezos (second from left, his brother (right) Wally Funk (second from right), but due to ‘scheduling conflict, Sun’s seat was taken by 18-year-old Oliver Daemen (left)
Bitcoins are traded via a decentralized registry system known as a blockchain and web3 refers to, in the context of Ethereum, refers to decentralized apps that run on the blockchain.
Other names will be of artists, leaders in technology, as well as a ‘highly visible and socially influential celebrity,’ according to Sun.
The Blue Origin auction for the seat was held in May and Sun beat 20 other participants for the seat aboard the New Shepard that launched on July 20.
While the funds raised from the event are earmarked for charity, Blue Origin really hope to galvanize enthusiasm for its nascent suborbital tourism business.
On July 18 it was revealed that Sun, who at the time was still anonymous, decline the space trip.
Sun, who is originally from China, shot to fame for his take on cryptocurrencies and when he won an auction for lunch with Warren Buffett for about $4.6 million in 2019
He also announced last week that he had been appointed the representative for the Caribbean country Grenada to the World Trade Organization in Geneva
Instead, Daemen, who had participated in the auction, took the seat and became the youngest person to travel to space – he also became Blue Origin’s first paying customer.
Blue Origin has since conducted a second space tourist flight that took off on December 11.
The seven-minute flight held six passengers, including Good Morning America co-host Michael Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley – the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard, who was the first American to fly to space.
The other four, who have paid a high price for the experience, include space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick, Bess Ventures founder Lane Bess and Cameron Bess, who became the first parent-child duo to fly in space.
Source: Read Full Article