/ Modified jul 20, 2021 4:48 p.m.

Bezos' private space program could yield dividends for researchers

Scientists anticipate less-expensive access to Earth orbit and the moon.

Commercial Space Jeff Bezos with his proposed lunar lander.
Dave Mosher

Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos and three others traveled from West Texas to the edge of space in Bezos' own private spacecraft Tuesday.

University of Arizona Space Institute program manager Hop Bailey thinks successful commercial space ventures could mark a revolutionary step for researchers as well.

"What the development of commercial launch services does is reduce the cost of getting to space and performing research," he said.

Bailey says unmanned commercial trips could make regular cargo runs to the moon and land a new generation of exploratory rovers on the lunar surface.

"Those are big rovers, the size of a small compact car brought to the surface of the moon in one go."

Unmanned moon landers could also support mining operations and a future lunar base.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona