Moon Express

Moon Express is an American private lunar exploration company and one of the original Google Lunar XPrize competitors.

Cape Canaveral, United States Est. 2010 Commercial
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Quick Facts
Country
United States
Founded
2010
Type
commercial
Status
development

About Moon Express

Moon Express is an American private lunar exploration company and one of the original Google Lunar XPrize competitors. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the company was the first private company to receive US government approval to travel beyond Earth orbit when it received FAA approval in 2016 for a lunar mission. Moon Express developed the MX-1 family of spacecraft designed as scalable lunar landers for cargo delivery, science instruments, and resource extraction — specifically targeting water ice in permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles. The company has been relatively quiet since the Google Lunar XPrize ended in 2018 without a winner, though it maintains development activities. Moon Express faced competition from Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and ispace, which received NASA CLPS contracts that Moon Express did not.

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Frequently asked about Moon Express

Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.

When was Moon Express founded?
Moon Express was founded in 2010 in United States.
Where is Moon Express headquartered?
Moon Express is headquartered in Cape Canaveral, United States.
What does Moon Express do?
Moon Express is an American private lunar exploration company and one of the original Google Lunar XPrize competitors. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the company was the first private company to receive US government approval to travel beyond Earth orbit when it received FAA approval in 2…
Is Moon Express a public or private company?
Moon Express is currently a private commercial (status: development).
What sector does Moon Express operate in?
Moon Express operates in lunar.

Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Moon Express is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.

Last updated: June 30, 2026
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