A private startup aiming to launch manned lunar expeditions has started a crowdfunding campaign to get the public involved.
The company, Golden Spike, aims to get its first mission off the ground by 2020. To help achieve that goal, the startup’s leaders are reaching out via the crowdfunding site Indiegogoin hopes of raising $240,000 — “a dollar for every mile on the way to the moon,” said Golden Spike’s president and CEO, planetary scientist Alan Stern.
“Ever since we launched [the company], we’ve been getting emails and tweets and Facebook posts about, ‘How can I help?'” Stern told SPACE.com. “It just seems like there’s a hunger out there to participate in grand exploration.”
Contributors during the 10-week campaign can secure rewards ranging from printed “thank you’s” and subscriptions to Golden Spike’s mailing list (for a $25 donation), to VIP trips to see the company’s first moon launch (for a contribution of $50,000). Other options include nominating names for the lunar test vehicles, and having your name flown to the moon during Golden Spike’s first lunar landing mission.
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