SpaceX is expanding its space tourism business by accepting the popular cryptocurrency dogecoin as payment for a ticket on the next trip to space. SpaceX announced they would be accepting payments in dogecoin for an upcoming mission that will take off in early 2022.
A Canadian company, Geometric Energy Corporation, disclosed they would be paying SpaceX solely in dogecoin to secure a spot for an 88-pound satellite on the Doge-1 mission in early 2022. Geometric Energy Corporation announced the satellite would “obtain lunar-spatial intelligence from sensors and cameras.”
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is one of the most famous supporters of the growing cryptocurrency and triggered a currency sell-off during his appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” During a segment of the SNL show Musk said dogecoin was a “hustle,” resulting in the price plummeting 40% but is up more than 12,000% since January and has gained 800% more this month alone.
The vice president of commercial sales for SpaceX Tom Ochinero said the mission intends to “demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set the foundation for interplanetary commerce.” The official press release states, “Indeed, through this very transaction, DOGE has proven to be a fast, reliable, and cryptographically secure digital currency that operates when traditional banks cannot and is sophisticated enough to finance a commercial Moon mission in full.”
