A private company will be allowed to land on the moon in 2017, marking the first time the U.S. government has ever granted such a request. Up until the government's approval on Wednesday, private companies were only allowed to operate on or near Earth; now, Florida-based Moon Express will be allowed to set a robot down on the moon next year, a first for the commercial space industry.
"Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children. In the immediate future, we envision bringing precious resources, metals, and moon rocks back to Earth. In 15 years, the moon will be an important part of Earth's economy, and potentially our second home," Moon Express co-founder Naveen Jain said in a statement.
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