MoonEx, a space startup established by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and space enthusiasts, now has enough money to fund the first ever manned expedition to the moon. The group, which is also a competing party for the Google Lunar XPRIZE, has been approved by the United States government to become the first private enterprise to explore the moon for possible resources.
In an official company press release, Moon Express has lauded the U.S. policy that authorized the maiden trip to the moon, saying that it could pave the way to the expansion of commercial exploration efforts in the Earth's only natural satellite. The company is in ongoing consultation with several federal agencies including the FAA, the State Department and NASA. The company is hoping to mine the moon for water, precious metals, iron ore, nitrogen, carbon, helium-3 and other rare minerals.
This latest development in moon exploration comes a few weeks after the space startup expressed willingness to work with billionaire Elon Musk and SpaceX on their own efforts. According to CNBC, MoonEx's founder Naveen Jain said that it possible for the two parties to collaborate, with the arrangement being that "Elon will build the rocket." Musk, for his part, has his eyes on the bigger prize: Mars, something that Jain agreed to. Jain did not close he possibility of the moon becoming the next big tourist destination.
The Lawyer Herald will be posting more news and updates on MoonEx and the status of their lunar exploration in the coming weeks. Will MoonEX be able to put a satellite in the moon before the year ends? Will this inspire other countries to have their lunar exploration trips as well? Fire away in the Lawyer Herald comments section. Meanwhile, watch the company's presentations of its planning for the maiden lunar trip in the video below.
