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Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission by andreasvc on Monday June 06, 2016 @06:17AM (#11845663)
What are the scientific goals of such a mission? The article only talks about the regulatory hurdles.
Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission by snowwrestler on Monday June 06, 2016 @09:24AM (#11846558)
It is probably primarily an engineering mission--with goals to see if it can be done, how efficiently it can be done, and what can be learned along the way.

It is similar in this respect to SpaceX or Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin. The science of rocket engines is pretty well understood, but it's still an interesting problem to optimize.

To some extent future science depends on future engineering, so advances in engineering can still have scientific value.

Re:US Set to Approve Private Moon Mission by larrydag on Monday June 06, 2016 @09:15AM (#11846502)
Here's some ideas. I have no idea if anyone is working on it.

1. Telescope

2. Dark matter research

3. Effects of radiation in low atmosphere environment

4. Remote habitat research

5. Testing unmanned rocket/vehicle landings and launches