月球快递表示其目的是开采月球矿藏,该公司联合创始人兼董事长内维•杰恩称,他希望降低太空旅行的成本,为定居月球并最终在火星定居做好准备.
"The sky is not the limit for Moon Express – it is the launchpad," Jain said in an earlier statement after his firm gained federal approvals. "This breakthrough ruling is another giant leap for humanity. Space travel is our only path forward to ensure our survival and create a limitless future for our children."
早前,在月球快递获得联邦政府的批准后,杰恩曾在一份声明中表示,"天空不是我们的边界,而是我们的发射台.这一突破性的决定是人类的又一次巨大飞跃.太空旅行是我们确保生存并为子孙后代创造无限未来的唯一途径."
The more immediate goal of the company, which formed in 2010, is to bring resources, metals and moon rocks back to Earth, Jain said. He also stated that in 15 years, he believes the moon will be an important part of the Earth's economy and "potentially our second home".
杰恩称,公司2010年设立的近期目标是从月球上带回金属、岩石等资源.他相信在15年内月球将成为地球经济的重要组成部分,并有"可能成为人类的第二故乡".
The company has said it believes the moon can "produce resources essential to humanity's future on Earth and in space".
月球快递表示,他们相信在月球上可以"生产出对人类在地球和太空中的未来至关重要的资源".
Moon Express is one of 16 teams that have competed for funding as part of Google's Lunar X Prize initiative, which launched in 2007 to incentivize private firms to develop technology and plans for planetary exploration.
月球快递是参与谷歌月球X奖金活动的16支竞赛队伍中的一支,该活动发起于2007年,为的是鼓励私营公司开发技术和行星探测计划.
Moon Express said it has raised a total of more than $45m from individuals and venture funds.
月球快递表示他们已经从个人和风投基金筹集到共计超过4500万美元.
Last year, the US government advanced the process to establish rules for space launches in compliance with international treaties after Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates pushed forward with similar efforts.
继卢森堡和阿联酋通过类似决定之后,美国政府去年推进了符合国际条约的太空发射规则建设进程.
Motley Fool, a financial services site, has estimated that the mineral wealth of the moon may be quadrillions of dollars.
金融服务网站Motley Fool估算月球的矿产财富可能价值数万亿美元.
英文来源：卫报
