The American space agency NASA wants to purchase moon rocks and debris from commercial parties that pick up these rocks from the moon themselves. Earlier this week called out NASA private companies already set up to transport specific equipment to the moon. With this, the organization is working hard to involve commercial parties more closely in the return to the moon.
Parties are eligible for one contract if, for example, they are transparent about their actions and adhere to the agreements of the international Space Treaty of 1967. This treaty states, among other things, that no one can claim power over a celestial body.
The collection and sale of lunar land must take place before 2024, when the United States plans to put astronauts on the moon again. The only moon rocks brought to Earth come from meteorites, the unmanned Luna missions by the Soviet Union in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, and the US Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s.
By learning more about lunar soil and its uses, space agencies hope to make it possible for people to stay on the moon for extended periods of time, such as as a settlement. It hopes to be able to apply the knowledge that the organization gains from staying on the moon for the exploration of Mars.
NASA has already called for transport of 100 kg of equipment
Earlier this week, NASA already called on commercial partners to bring various research equipment, such as an automatic drill, to the moon. This involves a total of 100 kilograms of items, which can be transported by fourteen different partners. These partners include SpaceX, Lockheed Martin and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
These commercial partners are also working on their own lunar lands to be able to place both equipment and astronauts on the celestial body. NASA itself is only working on the Orion capsule, which will put astronauts in orbit around the moon. The vehicle with which they will actually set foot on the moon in 2024 is therefore provided by a private company and has not yet been finished or, as far as is known, tested.
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A concept drawing of Blue Moon, Blue Origin’s lunar lander. (Photo: Blue Origin Corp.)
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