Canadian energy company Geometric Energy Corporation is launching the "first-ever commercial lunar payload in history paid entirely" with Dogecoin, the dog-based cryptocurrency initially started as a joke.

Geometric Energy is launching a cubesat under the name DOGE-1 Mission to the Moon that will launch in the first quarter of 2022, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It will be used to gather lunar-spatial intelligence via cameras and sensors on board the 88-pound cubesat.

"Having officially transacted with DOGE for a deal of this magnitude, Geometric Energy Corporation and SpaceX have solidified DOGE as a unit of account for lunar business in the space sector," said Geometric Energy's CEO Samuel Reid in a statement.

Cryptocurrency Beyond Earth Orbit

SpaceX vice president of commercial sales Tom Ochinero said that DOGE-1 will "demonstrate the application of cryptocurrency beyond Earth orbit and set the foundation for interplanetary commerce."

The entire concept does, admittedly, sound somewhat like a Mad Libs for the meme generation. SpaceX boss Elon Musk tweeted on April 1 (note the date) that, "SpaceX is going to put a literal Dogecoin on the literal moon." Now, just over a month later, it seems that this isn't as much of a joke as it may have seemed at the time. Dogecoin is currently the fourth largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

Musk talked up Dogecoin during his recent appearance on Saturday Night Live---although it actually wound up decreasing despite the high profile, widely watched namecheck.

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