NASA seeks moon mining from private companies

NASA looks for private companies to go to the moon and collect samples to bring back to Earth, according to an announcement yesterday.

The mined materials, from 50-500 grams, would then be bought for anything between $15,000 (£11,300) to $25,000 (£18,900).

Jim Bridenstine, the administrator at the American space agency, said on Thursday that the collection was part of last years Artemis exploration program, helping astronauts "live off the land" in future manned missions.

NASA indicated that missions to Mars, for example, would need the use of mined materials.

Mr Bridenstine stated in a blog post that the program would adhere to the Outer Space Treaty created in 1967 and would not claim sovereignty over the moon or other celestial entities. Not only that, but the program would also comply with NASA's Artemis Accords which ensures "safety zones" around mining sites taking place on the moon's surface.

He added that companies such as SpaceX, Astrobotic and Sierra Nevada Corp, which have already been contracted to fly cargo and experiments to the lunar surface ahead of astronauts arriving, could be interested in lunar mining.