Some of the people selected for dearMoon spoke out on social media after Maezawa announced the cancellation. “We had no prior knowledge of this possibility,” said Tim Dodd, a YouTube personality known as “Everyday Astronaut.” “I voiced my opinions, even before the announcement, that it was improbable for dearMoon to happen in the next few years.”

He added he was “extremely disappointed” by the decision. “I slowly allowed myself to envision a trip to the Moon one little bit by little bit.”

“We have been dropped, apparently due to impatience,” said Rhiannon Adam, an Irish photographer who was the only woman on the prime crew for dearMoon, who offered a sharper critique of Maezawa’s decision. “As someone with a critical brain, much of this doesn’t make sense, particularly with regard to timeline. I never believed we were going in 2023, or 2024.”

She said she and others selected for dearMoon were willing to wait but were not consulted by Maezawa before he announced the cancellation. “I am left doubting the project’s integrity, and feel used.”