5 ms·

California Company Gets Approval to Put Robotic Lander on Moon

28 points by jbredeche 10y ago

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
jpt4 10y ago
From the article: First, Florida, not California. Second, the lede: "Moon Express, based in Cape Canaveral, Fla., announced Wednesday that it had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to set a robotic lander on the moon. That feat would win the Google Lunar X Prize competition for the first private organization to reach the moon and an accompanying $20 million reward."
- choward 10y ago
  > Correction: August 3, 2016 > An earlier version of this article gave an outdated location for the headquarters of Moon Express. The company is now based in Cape Canaveral, Fla., not Mountain View, Calif. The error was repeated in the headline.
  - jpt4 10y ago
    Thank you.
jmcdiesel 10y ago
And why does anyone need permission to land on the moon?
- mikeash 10y ago
  From the article: The Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the moon or other parts of the solar system. It also states: “The activities of nongovernmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate state party to the treaty.”
  - LastZactionHero 10y ago
    Violating the Outer Space Treaty would be a cool thing to go to jail for.
    - mikeash 10y ago
      "What are you in for?" "Robbed a liquor store. You?" "Violated the Outer Space Treaty." "...huh..." I agree, if I had to go to prison for something, I'd pick that.
      - erdevs 10y ago
        True. Though what would happen if you launched your lunar vehicle from a platform on international waters? Loophole? Or do we now get to mix in Maritime Law as well as the Outer Space Treaty, which is an even cooler jail story in the making...
        boznz 10y ago
        Just have to launch it from one of the counties that did not sign the treaty.
        euyyn 10y ago
        That'd make you an Outer Space Pirate.
        generj 10y ago
        Mark Watney, Space Pirate.
  - coldcode 10y ago
    I wonder if there are countries that didn't sign it.
    - SixSigma 10y ago
      Yes, quite a few https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty

28 points by jbredeche 10y ago

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

jpt4 10y ago

From the article: First, Florida, not California. Second, the lede: "Moon Express, based in Cape Canaveral, Fla., announced Wednesday that it had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to set a robotic lander on the moon. That feat would win the Google Lunar X Prize competition for the first private organization to reach the moon and an accompanying $20 million reward."

choward 10y ago
> Correction: August 3, 2016 > An earlier version of this article gave an outdated location for the headquarters of Moon Express. The company is now based in Cape Canaveral, Fla., not Mountain View, Calif. The error was repeated in the headline.
- jpt4 10y ago
  Thank you.

jmcdiesel 10y ago

And why does anyone need permission to land on the moon?

mikeash 10y ago
From the article: The Outer Space Treaty prohibits nations from claiming sovereignty over the moon or other parts of the solar system. It also states: “The activities of nongovernmental entities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall require authorization and continuing supervision by the appropriate state party to the treaty.”
- LastZactionHero 10y ago
  Violating the Outer Space Treaty would be a cool thing to go to jail for.
  - mikeash 10y ago
    "What are you in for?" "Robbed a liquor store. You?" "Violated the Outer Space Treaty." "...huh..." I agree, if I had to go to prison for something, I'd pick that.
    - erdevs 10y ago
      True. Though what would happen if you launched your lunar vehicle from a platform on international waters? Loophole? Or do we now get to mix in Maritime Law as well as the Outer Space Treaty, which is an even cooler jail story in the making...
      - boznz 10y ago
        Just have to launch it from one of the counties that did not sign the treaty.
      - euyyn 10y ago
        That'd make you an Outer Space Pirate.
        generj 10y ago
        Mark Watney, Space Pirate.
- coldcode 10y ago
  I wonder if there are countries that didn't sign it.
  - SixSigma 10y ago
    Yes, quite a few https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty