US to target moon in ‘19

PRIVATE companies could be landing on the moon as soon as next year, after NASA announced $3.6 billion worth of contracts to get humans there as soon as possible.

Nine firms will compete for the contracts to deliver science and technology experiments to the lunar surface. The companies will work out how to get there. The tests will help speed up scientific study and human exploration of the moon and Mars. Before humans can regularly travel to space, the agency needs to better understand navigation, landing and survival requirements.