Elon Musk and SpaceX agree 10 year naming rights deal to the Moon

In an interstellar first, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has announced a 10-year naming rights deal with the Moon. The partnership will see Earth’s natural satellite renamed the ‘SpaceX Lunar Station’ until at least 2033.

The deal, thought to be the first of its kind, includes custom built LED signage boards placed across the moon displaying the SpaceX logo making it visible from Earth.

Announcing the deal on Twitter Musk commented “From our perspective it makes perfect sense. This partnership gives SpaceX round the clock global brand awareness. When people look up to the stars, we want them to think SpaceX and this deal gives us that, not to mention it’s pretty cool.”

Commercial Director of Lunar Partnerships, April Foole added “We are delighted to have partnered with such an innovative and forward-thinking brand as SpaceX. This deal will provide much needed funding as we continue to develop a space station on the lunar surface. We also look forward to working with SpaceX towards our 2030 vision of hosting the FIFA World Cup on the moon.”

Critics of Musk have been quick to take to Twitter to vent their anger at the deal. One user, who goes by the name Jabbawat69 posted “It’s outrageous that Elon Musk is allowed to put the SpaceX logo on the moon, what’s next the Ambre Solaire logo on the sun!!! I’m not having it, from now on I’m closing my eyes at night!”

The deal is thought to be the first of many. Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are both rumoured to be considering a naming rights deal with Mars, however the 140 million miles separating it from the Earth is proving to be an early sticking point.

You can read more on this story on the SpaceX website here.