Jun 6, 2016 01:57 AM
(This post was last modified: Jun 13, 2016 03:44 AM by Yazata.)
A tiny Mountain View California start-up called Moon Express (or MoonX) has plans to win the latest X-prize by landing a suitcase-sized scientific payload (with a high-def camera) on the Moon in 2017. Apparently the FAA is in the process of approving it. The lander is being tested at Cape Canaveral in Florida in conjunction with NASA.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-set-to-a...1465166277
http://www.moonexpress.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/content/moon-express...ace-center
They plan to use an 'Electron' small satellite launcher rocket, built by a New Zealand/California firm called Rocket Lab. It isn't clear yet whether it will be launched from the US or NZ. Rocket Lab is building an orbital satellite launch site on the mahia peninsula on the east side of NZ's North Island.
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
https://rocketlabusa.com/construction-be...unch-site/
Founded by a New Zealander, with facilities in Auckland as well as California, Rocket Lab is tiny but has some big backers, including Lockheed Martin who have invested money in it. (So apparently its technology is reasonably credible.) The little rocket maker already has contracts not only with MoonX, but also with NASA to launch small satellites.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-set-to-a...1465166277
http://www.moonexpress.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/content/moon-express...ace-center
They plan to use an 'Electron' small satellite launcher rocket, built by a New Zealand/California firm called Rocket Lab. It isn't clear yet whether it will be launched from the US or NZ. Rocket Lab is building an orbital satellite launch site on the mahia peninsula on the east side of NZ's North Island.
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
https://rocketlabusa.com/construction-be...unch-site/
Founded by a New Zealander, with facilities in Auckland as well as California, Rocket Lab is tiny but has some big backers, including Lockheed Martin who have invested money in it. (So apparently its technology is reasonably credible.) The little rocket maker already has contracts not only with MoonX, but also with NASA to launch small satellites.