Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Japanese startup lands $90 million to put a billboard on the moon — Video at site
Digital Trends ^ | December 18, 2017 2:48 pm | By Luke Dormehl

Posted on 12/19/2017 11:30:28 AM PST by Swordmaker


“We’ve got a startup idea. We want $90 million to invest in projection technology for high tech billboards. On the moon.”

At least, that is how we assume the pitch went from Japanese space startup iSpace Technologies Inc., which just announced the conclusion of its Series A round of venture funding. Its goal? To launch a spacecraft into lunar orbit by 2019, land on the moon the year after that, and then set up the necessary infrastructure for a moon-based advertising business. Heck, you can’t fault the company’s ambition!

iSpace’s $90 million will cover two space flights in 2019 and 2020. Once iSpace’s spacecraft is safely landed on the moon, it will then make one giant leap for digital marketing by setting up its billboard, which can be rented by companies wanting their logo to be seen against the picturesque backdrop of … well, Earth. “Human beings aren’t heading to the stars to become poor,” Takeshi Hakamada, chief executive officer of iSpace, said at a recent press event in Tokyo. “That’s why it’s crucial to create an economy in outer space.”

Groups keen to be part of the new lunar economy, who invested in iSpace’s dream, include major Japanese businesses including Japan Airlines and TV network Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, in addition to the Innovation Network Corp. of Japan and the Development Bank of Japan.

iSpace’s ambitions don’t end at a simple billboard, either. It also plans to use lunar exploration vehicles to search for water from 2021, which it will then turn into hydrogen fuel that could be used to support a lunar settlement. To give an idea of some of its plans, iSpace has released a “2040 Vision Movie,” which depicts how it imagines life on the moon will look in a few decades’ time — complete with lunar refueling stations that may be used to support both moon settlers and regular day trips from Earth.

The company started through Google’s Lunar Xprize, which promises to award $20 million to whoever can land and drive a spacecraft on the moon’s surface. Heck, we guess it only makes sense that a company with links to Google would be interested in futuristic high-tech approaches to advertising.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Business/Economy; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: advertising; astronomy; horrors; moon
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

1 posted on 12/19/2017 11:30:29 AM PST by Swordmaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker
So how many lunas to the yen?
2 posted on 12/19/2017 11:33:23 AM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Why not project movies on the moon? Won’t work every night, but will get a lot of viewers.


3 posted on 12/19/2017 11:33:41 AM PST by I want the USA back (*slam is a violent political movement that escapes scrutiny by hiding behind the facade of religion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

I recall a science fiction story from the 1950s in which a space traveller smuggled an explosive device that spread carbon in a pattern all over the moon's Earth facing surface to replicate the Coca Cola Logo... which became a permanent advertising fixture in the night sky. . . much to everyone's horror.

This Billboard was part of a hoax several years ago:


These guys apparently are serious.

4 posted on 12/19/2017 11:35:24 AM PST by Swordmaker (My pistol self-identifies as an iPad, so you must accept it in gun-free zones, you racist, bigot!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Better not plant any racist trees.

They will have to come down, later.


5 posted on 12/19/2017 11:36:53 AM PST by Scrambler Bob (All posts are /s, unless otherwise specified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Spoon!

-PJ

6 posted on 12/19/2017 11:37:36 AM PST by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Unless the advertising is directed to astronomers or residents of a moonbase, it’s completely ridiculous.

You wouldn’t be able to read it unless the billboard was bigger than the moon itself.


7 posted on 12/19/2017 11:38:52 AM PST by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

I am surprised they got an initial round of funding since they didn’t detail how eyeballs would be cmapped and tracked to each viewer ...


8 posted on 12/19/2017 11:39:21 AM PST by SecondAmendment (Restoring our Republic at 9.8357x10^8 FPS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

9 posted on 12/19/2017 11:41:00 AM PST by taildragger ("Do you hear the people Singing? Singing the Song of Angry Men!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

10 posted on 12/19/2017 11:42:11 AM PST by Eddie01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker
Hey! That was MY idea! The moon is so reflective that you could light up the dark portion (during waning and new moons) with a raster-based laser image from a satellite in Earth-Moon Lagrange orbit. During full moons the sunlight would swamp out any laser image.
11 posted on 12/19/2017 11:42:18 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: treetopsandroofs

This is lunacy


12 posted on 12/19/2017 11:42:24 AM PST by Gasshog (When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Next on the moon: A strip mall.

Not long before the moon becomes a visual sewer like just about every urban area in the U.S.


13 posted on 12/19/2017 11:43:56 AM PST by Signalman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Pink Floyd knew there would be a little problem withe this

Obscured By Clouds


14 posted on 12/19/2017 11:45:27 AM PST by Gasshog (When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles scream and shout!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Will there be an Interplanetary Motorcycle Cop hiding behind it?


15 posted on 12/19/2017 11:49:39 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

I want to see Burma-Shave signs planted on the moon.


16 posted on 12/19/2017 11:52:17 AM PST by be-baw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker

Bad idea to disturb the surface with trash.


17 posted on 12/19/2017 11:54:32 AM PST by ptsal ( Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - M. Twain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: be-baw

billboard on the moon — Video at site, be-baw wrote:
I want to see Burma-Shave signs planted on the moon.
= = = = = = = = = = =
And a waffle house off the Intergalactic Super Highway

Remember the show 3rd Rock from the sun...

The one kept putting earthlings down for being stupid and kept saying WE were behind when it comes to technology.

BUT

The one thing they NEVER mastered was shampoo & conditioner in the same bottle.....


18 posted on 12/19/2017 11:58:15 AM PST by xrmusn ((6/98)""In todays world:::WE, THE USofA are Rudyard Kiplings 'Tommy'")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

“Bad idea to disturb the surface with trash.”

We’ve already put 200 tons of trash there....

http://www.govtech.com/question-of-the-day/Question-of-the-Day-for-07172015.html


19 posted on 12/19/2017 11:59:03 AM PST by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Swordmaker
This guy will see it in his travels:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

20 posted on 12/19/2017 11:59:15 AM PST by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson