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''''Moon Express''', or '''MoonEx''', is an American privately held early stage company formed by a group of [[Silicon Valley]] and [[spaceflight|space]] entrepreneurs, with the goal of winning the [[Google Lunar X Prize]], and ultimately [[mining]] the [[Moon]] for natural resources of [[economic value]].<ref name=lat20110408a> {{cite news|title=MoonEx aims to scour Moon for rare materials |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-moon-venture-20110408,0,1715396.story |accessdate=2011-04-10 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2011-08-20 |quote=''MoonEx's machines are designed to look for materials that are scarce on Earth but found in everything from a Toyota Prius car battery to guidance systems on cruise missiles. ... The company is among several teams hoping to someday win the Google Lunar X Prize competition, a $30-million race to the Moon in which a {{Sic|hide=y|privately|-}}funded team must successfully place a robot on the Moon's surface and have it explore at least 1/3 of a mile. It also must transmit high definition video and images back to Earth before 2016. ... should be ready to land on the lunar surface by 2013.'' |first=W.J. |last=Hennigan}}</ref>{{sfn|Brown|2011}} ==History== In August 2010,{{sfn|Chow|2011}} [[Naveen Jain]],<ref name="ForbesMoon">{{cite news |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/briancaulfield/2011/07/22/billionaire-naveen-jain-think-of-the-moon-as-just-another-continent/ |title=Naveen Jain: 'Think Of The Moon As Just Another Continent' |publisher= [[Forbes]] |accessdate=August 16, 2011 |first=Brian |last=Caulfield}}</ref> [[Barney Pell]] and [[Robert D. Richards]],<ref name="SuccessfulFlight">{{cite web |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=33991 |title=Moon Express Announces First Successful Flight Test of Lunar Lander System Developed With NASA Partnership |publisher= Moon Express |accessdate=August 16, 2011}}</ref> co-founded Moon Express, a [[Mountain View, California]]-based company that plans to offer commercial lunar robotic transportation and data services with a long-term goal of mining the Moon for resources,<ref name="HuffingtonPost">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/22/new-space-business_n_907358.html |title=The New Space Biz: Companies Seek Cash In The Cosmos |accessdate=August 16, 2011 | work=Huffington Post | first=Saki |last=Knafo |date=July 22, 2011}}</ref> including elements that are rare on Earth, including [[niobium]], [[yttrium]] and [[dysprosium]].<ref name=lat20110408a/><ref name="Hindu.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/seta/2011/06/02/stories/2011060251761300.htm| title=Moving the heaven to get some rare earth |publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=June 2, 2011| accessdate=June 7, 2011| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> On June 30, 2011, the company held its first successful test flight of a prototype lunar lander system called the Lander Test Vehicle (LTV) that was developed in partnership with NASA.<ref name="SuccessfulFlight"/> On September 11, 2011, Moon Express announced that it had set up a robotics lab for a lunar probe named the "Moon Express Robotics Lab for INnovation" (MERLIN) and hired several engineering students who had successfully competed at the [[FIRST Robotics Competition|''FIRST'' Robotics Competition]]. In mid-2012, Moon Express announced that it will work with [http://www.iloa.org/ International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA)] to put a shoebox-sized astronomical telescope on the Moon.<ref>{{cite web| last=Sutherland| first=Paul|title=Moon Express to fly lunar telescope| url=http://www.sen.com/news/moon-express-backs-lunar-telescope.html| publisher=Sen.com| accessdate=19 August 2012}}</ref> Additional details were released in July 2013, including that there would be two telescopes: a {{convert|2|m|sp=us}} [[radio telescope]] as well as an [[optical telescope]]. The preferred location is {{convert|5|km|sp=us}}-high [[Malapert]] crater, with plans to land the mission no earlier than 2018.<ref name=wired20130718/> By 2012, MoonEx had 20 employees. In December 2012, MoonEx acquired one of the other Google Lunar X-Prize teams, [[Rocket City Space Pioneers]], from [[Dynetics]] for an undisclosed sum. The new agreement makes [[Tim Pickens]], the former lead of the RCSP team, the Chief Propulsion Engineer for MoonEx.<ref name=nsw20121220> {{cite news |last=Lindsey|first=Clark |title=MoonEx Acquires RCSP of Dynetics |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/moonex-acquires-rcsp-of-dynetics.html |accessdate=2012-12-21 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2012-12-20 |subscription=yes }}</ref> In September 2013, MoonEx added [[Paul Spudis]] as Chief Scientist and Jack Burns as Science Advisory Board Chair.<ref name=GLXP20130905>{{cite news |last=Kohlenberg| first=Brad| title=Moon Express Announces Dr. Paul Spudis as Chief Scientist and Dr. Jack Burns as Science Advisory Board Chair| url=http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/teams/moon-express/blog/moon-express-announces-dr-paul-spudis-chief-scientist-and-dr-jack-burns| newspaper=Google Lunar XPRIZE Blog| accessdate=2013-09-16| date=2013-09-05}}</ref> In October and November, 2013, Moon Express successfully conducted several free flight tests of its flight software utilizing the NASA [[Mighty Eagle]] lander test vehicle, under a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement with the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2013/13-130a.html|title=NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center's Mighty Eagle Successfully Conclu|first=Lee|last=Mohon|date=15 May 2015|publisher=}}</ref> In December 2013, MoonEx unveiled the MX-1 lunar lander, a [[toroid]]al robotic lander that uses [[High-test peroxide|high-test]] [[hydrogen peroxide]] as its [[rocket propellant|rocket]] [[monopropellant|propellant]] to support [[VTVL|vertical landing]] on the lunar surface.<ref name=pa20131205> {{cite news |last=Messier|first=Doug |title=Moon Express Unveils 'MX-1' Commercial Lunar Lander |url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/05/moon-express-unveils-mx1-commercial-lunar-lander/ |accessdate=2013-12-07 |newspaper=Parabolic Arc |date=2013-12-05 }}</ref> On April 30, 2014 [[NASA]] announced that Moon Express Inc. was one of the three companies selected for the [[Lunar CATALYST]] initiative.<ref name=nasa20140430>{{cite web| title=RELEASE 14-126 NASA Selects Partners for U.S. Commercial Lander Capabilities| url=http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/april/nasa-selects-partners-for-us-commercial-lander-capabilities/#.U2RX1KIXJDw| work=NASA.GOV website| publisher=NASA|accessdate=May 3, 2014| date=April 30, 2014}}</ref> The Moon Express "MX-1" spacecraft is designed to be launched as a secondary payload and to fly to the Moon from GEO.<ref name=FL_TD_20141103>{{cite news |last1=James Dean |title=Start-up at KSC eyes Google Lunar XPRIZE |url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/0001/01/01/start-test-lunar-lander-ksc/18395875 |accessdate=November 3, 2014 |work=Florida Today |date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> In December 2014, Moon Express successfully conducted flight tests of its "MTV-1X" lander test vehicle at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, becoming the first private company (and GLXP team) to demonstrate a commercial lunar lander.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/content/moon-express-completes-initial-flight-tests-at-nasas-kennedy-space-center/|title=Moon Express Completes Initial Flight Tests at NASA's Kennedy|first=Linda|last=Herridge|date=3 March 2015|publisher=}}</ref> In October 2015, Moon Express announced a launch contract with [[Rocket Lab]] to launch three Moon Express robotic spacecraft to land on the Moon, with two launches manifested in 2017, utilizing an Electron launch vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/moon-express-buys-rocket-lab-launches-for-lunar-missions/|title=Moon Express Buys Rocket Lab Launches for Lunar Missions - SpaceNews.com|date=1 October 2015|publisher=}}</ref> In June 2016, the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] approved plans for a mission to deliver a commercial package to the moon in late 2017.<ref name="wsj.com">{{cite news| last=Pasztor| first=Andy| url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-set-to-approve-moon-mission-by-commercial-space-venture-1465166277| title=U.S. Set to Approve Moon Mission by Commercial Space Venture |newspaper=The [[Wall Street Journal]]|date=June 5, 2016| accessdate=June 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/04/science/moon-express-faa.html|title=Florida Company Gets Approval to Put Robotic Lander on Moon|date=4 August 2016|work=The New York Times}}</ref> ==Legal regime for lunar resource extraction== Although the requisite legal regime to enable mining of lunar resources is not fully in place,<ref name=SSI_SM14a_20101109> [http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/10752525 Moon, Mars, Asteroids: Where to Go First for Resources?] SSI-TV video archive, recorded on November 9, 2010, 74:37, panel discussion held during the Space Studies Institute’s Space Manufacturing 14 conference in California. "Moderated by tech investor [[Esther Dyson]], the discussion included: Prof. [[Michael A'Hearn]], [[University of Maryland]], Dept. of Astronomy, Prof. Greg Baiden, Penguin Automated Systems, Mark Sonter, Asteroid Enterprises Pty Ltd, Prof. [[John S. Lewis]], [[Space Studies Institute]], Dr. [[Paul Spudis]], [[Lunar and Planetary Institute]], and [[Jeff Greason]], [[XCOR Aerospace]]."<!-- Link to the entire SSI SpaceMfg14 conference program is http://ssi.org/2010-conference-space-manufacturing-14/archive/ --></ref> major world space agencies, including [[NASA]], have put in place a coordination framework for encouraging the type of commercial activity proposed by Moon Express. <blockquote>"Entrepreneurs are thinking about further commercial expansion into space. As space exploration extends to the Moon and Mars, there will be potential opportunities for companies to provide ... space-based resource extraction and processing capabilities. For example, Moon rocks are rich in oxygen that might be exploited to provide life support systems for lunar operations. Liquid oxygen can also be used as a rocket propellant – and it might be more economical to manufacture it in space than to lift it off the Earth. Mining the Moon might also yield [[titanium]] – a strong but light metal favoured for high-end aerospace applications. Finally, the Moon’s known abundance of [[Helium-3]] could prove valuable if fusion reactors ever become feasible in the future.<ref name=csa2007> [http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/pdf/global_exploration.pdf The Global Exploration Strategy: the Framework for Coordination], ASI (Italy), BNSC (United Kingdom), CNES (France), CNSA (China), CSA (Canada), CSIRO (Australia), DLR (Germany), ESA (European Space Agency), ISRO (India), JAXA (Japan), KARI (Republic of Korea), NASA (United States of America), NSAU (Ukraine), Roscosmos (Russia), section 3 "Theme 3: Economic Expansion", pp. 10-12, May 2007, accessed 2011-01-05.</ref></blockquote> <blockquote>"For business to be confident about investing, it needs the certainty of a long-term commitment to space exploration, the opportunity to introduce its ideas into government thinking, and the rule of law. This means common understanding on such difficult issues as property rights and technology transfer. The Coordination Mechanism foreseen as part of the Global Exploration Strategy will provide a forum to discuss these important issues."<ref name=csa2007/></blockquote> The views of Moon Express on the legal and political realities of lunar resource utilization were articulated in an April 2011 [[Los Angeles Times]] article where Naveen Jain was interviewed: <blockquote>The idea of exploiting the Moon's resources for private gain is not likely to be a concern, Jain said. The United States, he said, 'has already brought back Moon rocks to our country without any other country fighting war over it.' 'I also think that the Moon will be treated no differently than the [[International waters|international water]] in our oceans,' he added. 'In this case, no one really owns the water but any company or country can mine the resources … from the international water as long as they follow certain safety/moral guidelines.' Jain also noted that 'there is strong legal precedent and consensus of 'finders keepers' for resources that are liberated through private investment, and the same will be true on the Moon. You don't have to own land to have ownership of resources you unlock from it. Moon Express will use existing precedents of peaceful presence and exploration set by the U.S. government 40 years ago.'<ref name=lat20110408a/></blockquote> The [[Outer Space Treaty]] of 1967, ratified by 100 nations, including the United States, forbids countries from claiming sovereignty over any part of the Moon, but does not prevent private companies from building or staking claims on the Moon. Mining could fall under similar legal parameters as fishing in international waters.<ref name="SeattleTimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/science/space/22moon.html?pagewanted=all |title=Race to the Moon Heats Up for Private Firms |work=The New York Times |first=Kenneth |last=Chang |date=July 21, 2011 |quote=The Outer Space Treaty of 1967, ratified by 100 nations, bars countries from claiming sovereignty over any part of the Moon, but does not prevent private companies from setting up shop. As for mining the Moon, it could fall under similar legal parameters as fishing in international waters.}}</ref> ==Mission plans== ===Initial contract=== Moon Express has received a NASA contract{{when|date=October 2015}} for data purchase that could be worth up to {{currency|10000000|US}}.<ref name=lat20110408a/><ref name=lat20110408>{{cite news|title=MoonEx aims to scour Moon for rare materials |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-moon-venture-20110408,0,1715396.story |accessdate=2011-04-10 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2011-04-08 |first=W.J. |last=Hennigan}}</ref> Moon Express is also partnered with NASA through a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement that allowed Moon Express to invest over $500K into the commercialization of technology developed by NASA.<ref name="SuccessfulFlight"/> ===Rocket=== On 30 September 2015, Moon Express signed a rocket launch contract with [[Rocket Lab]], a New Zealand startup company.<ref name='contract 2015'>{{cite news |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=46976 |title=Moon Express signs historic launch agreement for private missions to the Moon |work=Moon Express - Press release |publisher=SpaceRef |date=1 October 2015 |accessdate=2015-10-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://spaceref.biz/commercial-space/moon-express-launch-contract-to-be-verified-by-google-lunar-xprize.html |title=Moon Express Launch Contract to be Verified by Google Lunar XPRIZE |work=SpaceRef |date=4 October 2015 |accessdate=2015-10-05 }}</ref> Under the launch services contract, Rocket Lab will use its [[Rocket Lab#Electron launch vehicle|Electron]] rocket system to launch three missions. Two launches are for 2017, with the third to be scheduled at a later date.<ref name='contract 2015'/> ===Google Lunar XPRIZE=== The company is also a competitor in the [[Google Lunar X Prize]].<ref name="IndiaWest">{{cite web| url=http://www.indiawest.com/readmore.aspx?id=3263&sid=1| title=Intelius’ Naveen Jain Turns to Moon Mining, Philanthropy| publisher=IndiaWest.com| date=May 9, 2011|accessdate=June 7, 2011}}</ref> As of October 2015, there are 16 teams competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE, two of which have launch contracts for 2017 (SpaceIL and Moon Express). This prize will award $20 million to the first team to put a robotic spacecraft on the Moon and deliver data, images and video from the landing site and 500 meters away.<ref name="ForbesMoon"/> ===Other mission plans=== In addition to participation in the Google Lunar XPRIZE, with a planned "maiden technology demonstrator flight" in 2015,<ref name=pa20131205/> MoonEx is planning to place the [[International Lunar Observatory]] (ILO) on the Moon as early as 2018. The plan calls for placement of both a {{convert|2|m|sp=us}} [[radio telescope]] as well as an [[optical telescope]] at the South Pole of the Moon. The preferred location, {{asof|2013|07|lc=y}} is {{convert|5|km|sp=us}}-high [[Malapert|Malapert crater]].<ref name=wired20130718> {{cite news |last=Mann|first=Adam |title=The Private Plan to Put a Telescope on the Moon |url=http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/07/moon-ex-iloa-telescope/ |accessdate=2013-07-21 |newspaper=Wired |date=2013-07-18 }}</ref> ==See also== *[[Exogeology]] *[[Geology of the Moon]] ==References== {{Reflist|33em}} *{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-naveen-jain-20111210,0,4780820,full.story |title=Shooting for the Moon — to mine it |publisher= L.A. Times |accessdate=January 2, 2012 |first=Eryn |last=Brown |date=December 9, 2011|ref=harv}} *{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/13615-moon-express-lunar-lander-naveen-jain-interview.html|date= November 14, 2011 |title=A 'Mine in the Sky': Moon Express Co-Founder's Lunar Ambitions|publisher=[[Space.com]]|accessdate=March 16, 2012|first=Denise|last=Chow|ref=harv}} ==External links== *{{official website|http://www.moonexpress.com/|name=Moon Express official website}} *[http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/teams/moon-express/videos/moon-express-stem-webisode1mp4 Team Moon Express] *[http://www.googlelunarxprize.org/teams/moon-express/blog/bbc-radio-covers-moon-express BBC Radio Covers Moon Express] {{Google Lunar X Prize}} {{Future spaceflights}} {{Moon spacecraft}} {{Lunar rovers}} [[Category:Private spaceflight companies]] [[Category:Google Lunar X Prize]] [[Category:Proposed space probes]]'