US poised to approve first private Moon launch
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029877
Wall Street Journal : Until now only national governments have undertaken space missions beyond Earth orbit. That may soon change as Moon Express, a private US space company, readies its MX-1 commercial lunar lander for a 2017 launch. Moon Express is competing for the Google Lunar X prize, to be awarded to the first company to land a privately funded robotic spacecraft on the Moon. US launches are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is currently reviewing the process for granting commercial operations permission to conduct space missions beyond Earth’s gravitational pull. Such permission must take into account international treaty obligations and concerns over public safety, national security, and foreign policy. The FAA is expected to reach a decision within the next few weeks.