It seems like the days of Space being strictly government territory may be coming to a close. Recently, companies have set their sights on the moon and are planning to infiltrate in speeds we haven’t seen since the Apollo program.
An article in The Atlantic states, “A number of companies have set their sights on the moon, and they’re ramping up their plans to deliver spacecraft to its surface. They’re finalizing spacecraft designs and securing launch contracts, and they’ve set some fast-approaching deadlines.”
There is an elite crew of three countries that have been able to safely land on the moon. The United States, China and the Soviet Union with the financial backings of their governments. But now, NASA is sending a message that they’re no longer the only ones who can have their hand in this lunar enterprise.
“The moves sent a clear message on future moon exploration: Under the current administration, nasa won’t produce robotic missions in-house, but it will encourage U.S. companies to do so. Bridenstine has said he wants to put nasa-supported commercial landers on the lunar surface as early as 2019.” While we will have to wait several years to see what and who make their mark on the moon, it’s exciting to relish in our new space age future. That being said, our money is on Elon Musk…