U.S. Set to Approve Moon Mission by Commercial Space Venture

[Calista241]

Source: Wall Street Journal

U.S. officials appear poised to make space history by giving the green light to the first private mission aiming to go beyond Earth orbit, according to people familiar with the details.

The government’s endorsement would eliminate the largest regulatory obstacle to plans by Moon Express, a relatively obscure space startup, to land a roughly 20-pound package of scientific hardware on the Moon sometime next year. It also would provide the biggest federal boost yet for unmanned commercial space exploration and, potentially, the first in an array of for-profit ventures throughout the solar system.

The expected decision, said the people familiar with the details, is expected to set important legal and diplomatic precedents for how Washington will ensure such nongovernmental projects comply with longstanding international space treaties. The principles are likely to apply to future spacecraft whose potential purposes range from mining asteroids to tracking space debris.

Approval of a formal launch license for the second half of 2017 is still months away, and the proposed mission poses huge technical hurdles for California-based Moon Express, including the fact that the rocket it wants to use hasn’t yet flown.

Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-set-to-approve-moon-mission-by-commercial-space-venture-1465166277

[bucolic_frolic]

1. This is necessary because .........?

Quest for profits, intergalactic imperialism

[bluedigger]

2. We need to establish lunar telemetry to ensure maximum effect when we blow it up.

[vdogg]

3. Or perhaps

The advancement of science and satisfying the human urge to explore? The only way for space travel to become commonplace is to open it up to private enterprise. I would love to, as a private citizen, be able to take a trip into space someday. I would like to be able to do it at an affordable price. That will only happen when space travel becomes as common is air travel. There will need to be some profit incentive in order for businesses to take on such a challenge.

[elmac]

4. Space exploration should be commercial ventures

with rules, regulations and licensing. Always thought it was pretty "rich" for tax payers when monies could go to other things more important like education, infrastructure & anti poverty programs. USA has been spending money on space travel like it was some rich playboy, the party is over...

[vdogg]

5. The amount the government spent on space travel

Last edited Mon Jun 6, 2016, 09:43 AM - Edit history (1)

Barely hit 1% of the federal budget. The space program is dwarfed many times over by the amount of money spent on the military. If you ask me, we weren't spending enough.

[elmac]

6. Both are a waste of money

money the US doesn't have. Space travel is a status symbol, wars are driven by wall street greed. When we knock our poverty rate down to 5%, have all our road, bridges, sewer, water, rail, communications up to date and afford a free higher education, health care for all then maybe we can start to subsidize the space industry. But, the rich will have to start paying taxes so don't hold your breath.

[Gore1FL]

7. Sorry, Science isn't a waste.

It's hilarious that you would argue that it is using the very products created from it.

[Crash2Parties]

8. Yay! The moon needs more litter!

Why do many of these "ventures" just have that fund-raising-so-someone-can-have-an-easy-salary feel to them?

[PersonNumber503602]

9. It's the same waste like Space X. All that money given to them and nothing to show for it.

Oh wait.

[vdogg]

10. Good lord!

The anti-science sentiment exhibited by some in this thread is breathtaking. Did I wander on to freerepublic?