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Naveen Jain’s Moon Express to mine the Moon
Washington: Moon Express, a California-based aerospace company co-founded by Indian-American billionaire Naveen Jain, aims to send the first commercial robotic spacecraft to the moon next year as part of a NASA lunar initiative.
Moon Express, which earlier this year became the first company to successfully test a prototype of a lunar lander, is planning a series of other tests later this year to pave the way for sending its lander to the moon in 2016, Jain told.
The lander’s first mission is a one-way trip, meaning that it’s not designed to travel back to the Earth, he said.
“The purpose is to show that for the first time, a company has developed the technology to land softly on the moon,” Jain was quoted as saying. “Landing on the moon is not the hard part. Landing softly is the hard part.”
Looking ahead 15 or 20 years, Jain told NBC News, he envisions a day when the moon is used as a sort of way station enabling easier travel for exploration to other planets.
In the meantime, he said the lander’s second and third missions could likely involve bringing precious metals, minerals and even moon rocks back to Earth.
“Today, people look at diamonds as this rare thing on Earth,” Jain said.
He added: “Imagine telling someone you love her by giving her the moon.”
Moon Express conducted its tests with the support of NASA engineers as part of its lunar initiative – known as Catalyst – designed to spur new commercial US capabilities to reach the moon and tap into its considerable resources.
“Clearly, NASA has an amazing amount of expertise when it comes to getting to the moon, and it wants to pass that knowledge on to a company like ours that has the best chance of being successful,” Jain was quoted as saying.
Jain, who also founded Internet companies Infospace and Intelius, said the moon holds precious metals and rare minerals that can be brought back to help address Earth’s energy, health and resource challenges.
Moon Express also recently signed an agreement to take over Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, Jain said.
The historic launchpad will be used for Moon Express’s lander development and flight-test operations.
Before it was decommissioned, the launchpad was home to NASA’s Atlas-Centaur rocket programme and its Surveyor moon landers.
“We went to the moon 50 years ago, yet today we have more computing power with our iPhones than the computers that sent men into space,” Jain was quoted as saying.
“That type of exponential technological growth is allowing things to happen that was never possible before.”
Moon Express is already at the front of the pack of companies vying for the Google Lunar X Prize – a competition organized by the X Prize Foundation and sponsored by Google – to spur privately funded space exploration.
It will award $30 million to the first company that lands a commercial spacecraft on the moon, travels 500 metres across its surface and sends high-definition images and video back to Earth – all before the end of 2016.
In January, Moon Express was awarded a $1 million milestone prize from Google for being the only company in the competition so far to test a prototype of its lander.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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