USA: Private U.S. company, Golden Spike, announces plans to offer manned space flights to the surface of the moon by 2020

Record ID: 559497

  • Title: USA: Private U.S. company, Golden Spike, announces plans to offer manned space flights to the surface of the moon by 2020
  • Date: 6th December 2012
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 6, 2012) (REUTERS) GOLDEN SPIKE CHAIRMAN GERRY GRIFFINS APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOLDEN SPIKE CHAIRMAN GERRY GRIFFINS SAYING: "Our vision is to create a reliable and affordable, U.S.-based commercial human lunar transportation system that enables the exploration of the moon, of the moon, by humans from virtually any nation, or any corporation, or any individual wishing to accomplish objectives on the moon, including activities based around science, around business, around national prestige or personal accomplishment." GOLDEN SPIKE CEO ALAN STERN APPROACHING PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOLDEN SPIKE CEO ALAN STERN SAYING: "It has so much to teach us about the origin of the earth, the evolution of our solar system, the workings of small planets and it may even teach us about the origin of life on earth. And we also know that the moon's stores of resources range from water, that can fuel lunar bases, to platinum an d other exotic elements of economic value are there in huge quantities. Simply put, the moon is of interest to both the scientific community worldwide and to the commercial development of space and it is right around the corner." AUDIENCE MEMBERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) STERN SAYING: "We can make it affordable for mid-sized countries like a Korea for example, or like an Indonesia, or like a South Africa, and we could name a lot more just going around the continents, to be in the business of lunar exploration." WIDE OF GOLDEN SPIKE SPEAKERS
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Quirky,Space,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA240P3BQ6MGTVD8O6ISC85O7BN
  • Story Text: The U.S. company Golden Spike announced on Thursday (December 6) that it plans to offer manned space flights to the surface of the moon by 2020.
    The company made the announcement on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Apollo 17, which was the last manned mission to the moon.
    The founders of the company, including former NASA executive Alan Stern and former Apollo flight director Gerry Griffin, discussed the company's plans for the future at a National Press Club briefing in Washington, D.C.
    "Our vision is to create a reliable and affordable, U.S.-based commercial human lunar transportation system that enables the exploration of the moon, of the moon, by humans from virtually any nation, or any corporation, or any individual wishing to accomplish objectives on the moon, including activities based around science, around business, around national prestige or personal accomplishment," Griffin told members of the media.
    Golden Spike estimates that each two-man mission to the moon will cost approximately $1.4 billion. Stern, the company's CEO, said there are numerous countries that could be interested in a manned trip to the moon.
    "We can make it affordable for mid-sized countries like a Korea for example, or like an Indonesia, or like a South Africa, and we could name a lot more just going around the continents, to be in the business of lunar exploration," Stern said.
    Golden Spike is named after the ceremonial final spike, which joined the rails of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States on May 10, 1868, thereby providing regular transit to the Western frontier.
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