NASA Needs Help Mining the Moon

United States astronauts train for years. You have twelve days.

By Hope Corrigan

Nasa has released a letter outlining its interest in assistance from private companies regarding future collaborative missions to the moon.

The request states “NASA has identified a variety of exploration, science, and technology demonstration objectives that could be addressed by sending instruments, experiments, or other payloads to the lunar surface. To address these objectives as cost-effectively as possible, NASA may procure payloads and related commercial payload delivery services to the Moon.”

Futurism explains that NASA's message marks an increase in interest regarding Earth's natural satellite and both the commercial and scientific benefits it can afford us. It goes on to explain that some experts believe mining the moon with current technology is definitely possible and much of what would be needed can be 3D printed on site, saving on launch resources.

With the European Space Agency's goal to build a space station on the moon and SpaceX's plans to send two people around the moon in 2018, the future certainly looks interesting for our celestial neighbour.

Hope Corrigan is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can find her on the internet.

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