New York (CNN Business) NASA wants to purchase loads of rocks and dust from private-sector companies that could collect them from the moon, the latest step in the space agency's decade-long push to commercialize space exploration. The official request, published Thursday, states that NASA is willing to pay for samples between 50 and 500 grams — up to about a pound when weighed on Earth. NASA noted in its announcement that the goal of the US government is to create policies that will "encourage international support for the public and private recovery and use of resources in outer space." Spurring private-sector investments in space technology will push science and exploration efforts beyond what only taxpayer money could achieve, the thinking goes. "We know a supportive policy regarding the recovery and use of space resources is important to the creation of a stable and predictable investment environment for commercial space innovators and entrepreneurs," NASA said in its announcement Thursday.

Source: CNN September 11, 2020 12:56 UTC