Japanese soft drinks firm to advertise on Moon

A Japanese beverage manufacturer has announced its plans to advertise on the Moon.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical, the Tokyo-based soft drinks company, has said it wants to use private space companies to deliver a one kg "Dream Capsule" in the shape of a can of its most popular soft drink Pocari Sweat to the lunar surface, the Independent reported Friday.

As well as a small amount of Pocari Sweat in powdered form, the titanium can will also contain numerous disks with "messages by children from all over Asia" etched into their surfaces. "The time capsule contains the childrens' dreams," the Independent quoted the company as claiming.

Children who submit their messages to the company will also be given a "dream ring" - a special ring pull that opens up the can.

The company hopes it will inspire young people to become astronauts and travel back to the Moon one day to re-read their dreams.

The company will be working with a Pittsburgh-based firm named Astrobotic Technology to send their capsule on the 236,121 mile trip to the Earth's satellite, with the mission planned to take place in October 2015.