Scott Nicholas
Moon Express plans to invest $1.5 million in NASA-selected payloads that will fly to the moon in response to the space agency’s call for lunar instrument concepts that utilize commercial mission services.
The company said Tuesday it will allocate up to $500,000 for each instrument chosen by the agency to fly onboard Moon Express’ first three commercial lunar missions of opportunity under the Lunar Scout Program.
“The Moon Express Lunar Scout Program is designed to expand our partnership with NASA and support the lunar science community,” said Moon Express founder and CEO Bob Richards.
“Our goal is to collapse the cost of access to the Moon to enable a new era of lunar exploration and development for students, scientists and commercial interests.”
Moon Express aims to launch a series of robotic missions to the moon beginning in 2017 as part of efforts to prospect and harvest lunar resources as well as support science, exploration and commerce missions.
