A private firm first obtains permission to carry a probe to the moon – Univisión

Moon Express plans to launch its probe in the second half of 2017 in a rocket provided by Rocket Lab. So far, only the United States, the former Soviet Union and China have made moon landings.

Moon Express became the first private company that can fly beyond Earth and have permission to put a robotic probe on the floor of the Moon.

permission granted it the office of commercial space transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA for its acronym in English ), which determined that the MX-1E probe does not threaten public health or safety or foreign interests of the United States.

Only the United States, the former Soviet Union and China have materialized moon landings .

“the approval of the mission Moon Express 2017 is a historic decision by the US government and creates a precedent for missions in the private sector beyond the orbit of the Earth,” he said Bob Richards , CEO and cofounder of the company based in Cape Canaveral.

Moon Express was filed on April 8 ordered the FAA to perform the mission, which was accepted soon after, on April 21. The agency consulted with other government entities, including the State Department, before giving its approval.

The company founded in 2010 plans to launch its probe in the second half of 2017 in a rocket provided by Rocket Lab , said Naveen Jain, another co-founder of Moon Express, the portal TechCrunch . A company goal is to win the Google XPRIZE award , which will give 30 million dollars to teams that achieve alunizar a probe in a privately funded mission. Once there, they must transmit videos and imáganes high resolution.

Later, the firm wants to bring resources, metals and moon rocks. “Traveling into space is our only way to ensure our survival,” Jain said on the website of the company.

However, the FAA emphasized that this decision does not mean that any company that asks reach the moon will get the green light to do so. Nor that Moon Express can perform other tasks without requesting a new authorization to the government.

“This determination does not extend to future missions for Moon Express, Inc. or other entities similar missions. Any request future of Moon Express, Inc. or other entity will be evaluated case by case, “said the FAA.