Moon Express, a private organization, announced on Wednesday, that it has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a 2017 moon landing.
The FFA’s decision means that Moon Express is the first private company to be granted permission to land on the moon. All other private companies have been limited to Earth’s orbit. The trip to the company will be made by a robotic vessel operated by the company.
Moon Express says that this trip to the moon will allow it to evaluate its resources and plan future trips. It also notes that the recent discovery of water on the moon means that it could acts as a pit stop for future efforts to travel deeper into space.
“The Moon Express 2017 mission approval is a landmark decision by the U.S. government and a pathfinder for private sector commercial mission beyond Earth’s orbit,” Bob Richards, CEO and co-founder of Moon Express, said in a statement. “We are now free to set sail as explorers to Earth’s eighth continent, the moon, seeking new knowledge and resources to expand Earth’s economic sphere for the benefit of all humanity.”
Naveen Jian, co-founder and Chairman of Moon Express, believes that the moon could become an important part of the Earth’s economy in just 15 years. He also claims that it may become a second home for humans after they leave the planet.
Moon Express had to wait for over a year to get approval for its 2017 moon landing. The company submitted its request to the FAA on April 8, 2016.
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