During the Moon landing era, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the iconic faces. Now, in the Mars era, Chun Wang, a cryptocurrency billionaire with roots in Bitcoin mining, may become the new public figure associated with space exploration.
Wang is anticipated to lead a future SpaceX Starship mission that will venture past Mars and return to Earth. Although the launch date has not been disclosed, the success of the mission hinges on Starship’s ability to safely transport humans beyond Earth’s orbit.
Transition from Apollo to Billionaire Passengers
The era of celebrity spaceflight has already begun. In April 2025, Blue Origin carried Katy Perry, Gayle King, and others on the NS-31 New Shepard mission, attracting global attention despite its brief suborbital duration.
Wang’s planned Mars flyby mission represents a significant leap beyond suborbital flights. Lasting approximately two years, it will serve as a rigorous test for both the passenger and the spacecraft. If successful, Wang could be among the first humans to journey towards Mars without landing.
Having previously led SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, Wang gained orbital flight experience in 2025. This prior experience sets the stage for his upcoming Mars flyby, demonstrating SpaceX’s confidence in his abilities despite the mission’s complexity.
Progressing Towards Musk’s Mars Vision
Elon Musk’s vision of reaching Mars relies on the success of Starship, SpaceX’s dedicated rocket for interplanetary travel, which is still undergoing testing.
On May 22, 2026, SpaceX launched the upgraded Starship V3, achieving key objectives before intentionally ending in a fiery splashdown. While Starship’s capabilities are being proven, Wang’s Mars mission remains contingent on SpaceX’s ability to safely transport humans beyond Earth.
