Raised 54% of 100-million-yen goal before Sunday deadline

The "Project to Pierce the Moon With the Spear of Longinus" crowdfunding campaign failed to meet its 100-million-yen (about US$825,000) goal by its deadline on Sunday. The project had raised 54,695,000 yen (about US$455,000), or 54% of its goal, from 1,384 contributors on the crowdfunding website Readyfor.

Project Longinus aimed to recreate (with real-world contraints) the scene in the anime where the Evangelion Unit-00 hurls the Spear of Longinus, which eventually lands on the lunar surface. Had the campaign met its goal, a 240-millimeter (9.4-inch) spear would have launched aboard a spacecraft from America between the end of 2015 and the end of 2016. The project would have celebrated the 20th anniversary since the broadcasting of the Neon Genesis Evangelion television anime.

Since the project did not meet its goal, all backers will have their money refunded. The future of the project has not been made public. However, in a message posted on Monday, the project's executive committee expressed their hope that it raised awareness and support for private space ventures in the future.

Hakuto, Japan's first civilian team that aims to send an unmanned lunar expedition, was assisting "Project Longinus" as the only team from Japan competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE. Hakuto posted a message on Monday to say that the team members would like this project to eventually lead to various projects in the future development of space.

The project began accepting pledges from international backers late last month.

[Via Minna no Evangelion Fan]