Startup Florida Moon Express announced the receipt of US government permission to land on the moon surface robotic lander in 2017.
"This is not just a symbolic event, but also a starting point for the whole of the commercial space industry," - said co-founder and CEO of Moon Express Bob Richards (Bob Richards).
Moon Express is not only became the first private US aerospace company, who has received permission from the government on a mission to the moon, but also the first who allowed the flight beyond Earth's orbit. Other companies with on flight plan beyond Earth's orbit, such as SpaceX and Planetary Resources, have not yet reached this stage in the negotiations with the regulatory authorities.
US first private company to send a mission to the moon in 2017
08.07.2016 12:14 in category Science and Technology POLluks 449 14 0
US first private company to send a mission to the moon in 2017
Startup Florida Moon Express announced the receipt of US government permission to land on the moon surface robotic lander in 2017.
"This is not just a symbolic event, but also a starting point for the whole of the commercial space industry," - said co-founder and CEO of Moon Express Bob Richards (Bob Richards).
Moon Express is not only became the first private US aerospace company, who has received permission from the government on a mission to the moon, but also the first who allowed the flight beyond Earth's orbit. Other companies with on flight plan beyond Earth's orbit, such as SpaceX and Planetary Resources, have not yet reached this stage in the negotiations with the regulatory authorities.
Richards said that to obtain a permit required lengthy negotiations with a number of federal agencies, including NASA, FAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Communications Commission and the US Department of Defense and Department of State. The whole process of approval of "lunar mission» Moon Express took about a year.
Now Moon Express can fully concentrate on the financial and technological issues of the moon mission, which will begin with the launch of the lander MX-1 on board the rocket Rocket Lab Electron. Moon Express signed with Rocket Lab agreement on a number of launches payload using its rockets.
If the mission can be completed before December 31, 2017, the Moon Express will be able to carry out their plans to get the first prize of the competition Google Lunar X PRIZE of $ 20 million. According to its terms, the applicant must establish a lunar rover that will land gently on the surface of the moon, will pass not by it less than 500 m and send to Earth pictures and other data.