Will a Secret Private Manned Mission to the Moon Be Announced This Week?, page 1

Just found this and thought I would get everyone's thought on the matter. This seems like it could be cool thing for space exploration.

Internet rumors have been swirling for several weeks of a secret venture backed by private entrepreneurs that would return people to the moon’s surface. It seems that the veil will finally be lifted this week, during a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 6.

“The Golden Spike Company invites you to attend a game-changing announcement about the future of commercial human space travel to the Moon,” reads the announcement for the media briefing. ”Executives from the company will describe the team, the mission architecture, and the business model.”

Source: www.wired.com...

This could be huge for man going back to the moon. If I had to put money on it, they don't even get close to the moon but I have been wrong before...

That would be awesome!

I wonder if they're going to hook up with Planetary Resources..

www.planetaryresources.com...

That would be two birds with one stone, for sure. I can't imagine that the tourism market would prove profitable for the long term, if there aren't other industries already up there.

Even if this doesn't turn out to be what people are hoping for... it will come. I'd say it's almost inevitable... fingers crossed!

reply to post by VoidHawk

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Nobody has to make missions fail. Travelling in space is really really hard to begin with. NASA made it look easy, but look at all the failures of missions that never left Earth orbit. And all the failures they had before they ever put anyone in space. If space flight was easy, then these private companies wouldn't be spending billions, and having so many failures.

reply to post by TheHistorian

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If this is true
it will be the best space news I heard since sliced bread
But they better go silent about with the mission details and only use trusted people on the project
I would believe NASA would like to censor it out of reality in anyway possible

reply to post by smurfy

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This the problem with private space exploration, there are no secrets in capitalism. They have to be public about their venture. You can't make money being private.

I wonder what NASA's take on this whole enterprise is? I have a sneaking suspicion that NASA isn't super keen on this idea. I get the impression that they think as space as "their's" and it should be left to them to control and explore.

reply to post by TheHistorian

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NASA WANTS private companies involved. That's why they are paying millions and more out of their budget to companies like SpaceX, and others to develop manned capsules that will take astronauts to the ISS, and possibly farther. If they have a private company dealing with the "low altitude" stuff, they can concentrate on the deeper space aspect of their mission.

reply to post by MCCXLIV

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There have been a number of probes to the moon recently, by the US and by other countries. Including high definition pictures.

reply to post by Zaphod58

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Can you direct me to the resources for the science and photos?

TY

Were these missions to the actual surface of the moon?

reply to post by MCCXLIV

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Indian Chandrayaan-1
www.isro.org...

Clementine
www.nrl.navy.mil...

Japanese SELENE
www.jaxa.jp...

Mostly it's just imaging at this point, but the Indian space agency is planning an automated rover launch in 2013 that will go to the moon. China plans a rover for late this year or next year, with a sample return mission in 2017. JAXA was talking about a manned mission for 2020, but will revert to rovers.

Clementine IIRC was crashed into the moon to determine how much water might be there. I'm not sure if it was Clementine, or if it was another one, but there have been a few that have been crashed into the moon to collect data on ice, to determine the feasibility of a permanent outpost.

reply to post by MCCXLIV

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It's pretty much a "dead rock". There is no atmosphere to speak of, there were no oil deposits to be found, it served no monetary purpose so why return to it? The goal was for the US to get there before the Soviet Union did. They succeeded.

Other than "because it's there", there really isn't much reason to return.

reply to post by HowSoYouSay

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As with Mars, the moon has many fascinating surface features that should be investigated. I think Aristarchus Crater and its neighborhood should be imaged on-the-ground. I also think the poles and the far side of the moon should be extensively investigated.

With respect to other missions, Mars, to me, does not seem all that exotic. We've made a very good effort to do research there. Enough is enough.

If we are going to continue launching unmanned missions to other planets in our solar system I believe we should begin investigating the moons of Saturn and Jupiter and its moons. We should be landing on these bodies.

We've focused too much on Mars.

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