NASA says it can pay non-public firms to collect Moon rocks

Enlarge / A complete lunar eclipse begins in 2010. (credit score: NASA)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine introduced Thursday that the area company will search to buy between 50 and 500 grams of lunar regolith from a number of business suppliers.

In its newly issued “request for quotations,” NASA is asking non-public firms to submit bids for the work. As a part of the aggressive course of, NASA might choose a number of firms however will solely pay the majority of the contract value—80 p.c—upon supply of the supplies.

NASA has made one necessary concession as a part of its contract, permitting that “supply” of the supplies might happen on the Moon.