A commercial spaceflight company is setting its sights on the moon, and will soon be testing its lunar lander near historical Space Coast launch pads.

  • Moon Express plans to test its lunar lander at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
  • Company wants to win Google Lunar XPRIZE worth $30 million

Moon Express plans to assemble and perform tether and free flight tests on the small spacecraft on pads 17 and 18 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The company is trying to win the coveted Google Lunar XPRIZE, which means $30 million and a chance to become the first private company to land a craft on the moon.

CEO Bob Richards spoke to the National Space Club Florida in Cape Canaveral on Tuesday. He says the goal is eventual mining on the lunar surface and also potentially find water.

“We want to go up there and explore, find out where those resources are, and learn how to move and expand Earth's economy into space.”

Space Florida is chipping in nearly $2 million to help refurbish the launch pads dating back to the 1950s.

It's not known yet if Moon Express launches will take place at Cape Canaveral or elsewhere.