SpaceX Is Launching Dogecoin Funded Rocket To The Moon

SpaceX will launch a rocket to the moon entirely funded by Dogecoin.

The cryptocurrency, which began as a bit of a joke on social media, has been massively boosted by the tweets of SpaceX founder Elon Musk, which have brought it into the mainstream.

Now the 'DOGE-1 Mission to the Moon' is set to launch early next year, with the company promising the Falcon 9 lunar payload mission will 'obtain lunar-spatial intelligence from sensors and cameras on-board with integrated communications and computational systems'.

PA

The mission is in collaboration with Geometric Energy Corporation (GEC), which announced the news yesterday (Sunday 9 May).

In a statement, SpaceX's Vice President of Commercial Sales Tom Ochinero said: "This mission will demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set the foundation for interplanetary commerce.

"We're excited to launch DOGE-1 to the Moon!"

Musk alluded to this mission in a tweet last month, which read: "SpaceX is going to put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon."

But while Musk has done wonders for the currency as its promoter-in-chief, its value plummeted by more than a third on Sunday after he described it as a 'hustle' while guest hosting Saturday Night Live.

At another point, appearing alongside his mum Maye, she said: "I am excited for my Mother's Day gift.

"I just hope that it's not Dogecoin."

To which he immediately quipped: "It is... it sure is."

Later in the show, Musk appeared as the financial expert and was asked repeatedly to explain what Dogecoin is.

After telling co-host Michael Che to call him 'The Dogefather', he went on to explain: "It [Dogecoin] started as a joke based on an internet meme but now it has taken off in a very real way."

After Che removed a dollar bill from his pocket, Musk went on to add: "It's about as real as that dollar.

"It is the future of currency, it is an unstoppable financial vehicle that is going to take over the world."

Still not happy with the answer, Che asked: "What is it, man?"

Musk responded: "I keep telling you it's a cryptocurrency you can trade for conventional money."

Che then said: "Oh, so it's a hustle?" To which Musk agreed: "Yeah, it's a hustle."

Topics: elon musk, SpaceX, US News, space

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey