Before now, no government agency was recognized as having authority to oversee private missions beyond Earth’s orbit, though a 1967 worldwide treaty holds the United States responsible for any flights into space by its non-government entities.
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Moon Express took one giant leap for private enterprise on Wednesday when it became the first company to receive permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly beyond Earth’s orbit.
Private company wins United States clearance to fly to the moon was posted in Sci-Tech of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 03, 2016 and was last updated on August 03, 2016. Among other things, the treaty states that missions to the moon and other celestial bodies must be peaceful.
The company plans to use its unmanned robotic spacecraft to discover new resources on the moon’s surface, and potentially find ways to use them on Earth.
Moon express will launch to the moon in the third quarter of next year on a rocket which will be provided by Rocket Lab.
But getting that approval from the FAA has not been easy says Bob Richards, the founder and CEO of Moon Express.
Moon Express’s mission will be a one-way trip performed within the framework of the Google Lunar X prize, which will award $20 million to the first company that can send a craft to land on the moon, travel across its surface and send photographs back to Earth.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced its approval Wednesday, following consultations with the White House, State Department and the U.S. space agency NASA.
Artist’s concept of Moon Express’ MX-1 lunar lander on its way to the moon. The commercial value of the moons resources are estimated to be in the trillions of dollars.
Jain said for the first mission the small robot lander will capture pictures and video.
“In the immediate future, we envisage bringing precious resources, metals, and moon rocks back to Earth”.
“Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children”, Moon Express co-founder and Chairman Naveen Jain said in a statement today.
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As more and more private firms start kicking around up there, it’ll be interesting how the government responds to actually make sure no one is mucking about in space.
