2019 will mark the 50th anniversary of man’s first landing on the moon. We’ve come a long way since then. So much so that now, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that America’s next moon landing is expected to be completed by private companies. The news is coming just three days after they’ve successfully landed on Mars.
Jim Bridenstine, NASA Administrator, made the announcement on Thursday, November 29, identifying that, at present, nine American companies will soon be vying for the opportunity to deliver experiments to the moon. Bridenstine explained that in the process of having private industry bid and complete the necessary details, NASA will be purchasing the service as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS.) This means that NASA could effectively be living up to the “Administration” component of its name as opposed to fulfilling the entire implementation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NASA presently manages its field centers, coordinates management policies, and manages all policies of the International Space Station (ISS) program. Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas, directs the ISS. There have been no further details as to how the CLPS will affect or alter these components of NASA’s duties.
