Two U.S. companies aim to make history with 2023 moon landing missions
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A pair of U.S. companies, Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, plan to launch spacecraft to the moon in early 2023 as part of a NASA program to send cargo there.
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The missions aim to be the first private ventures to soft land on the moon and could scout locations for future NASA astronaut missions.
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The spacecraft launches are scheduled within weeks of each other - Astrobotic on Jan. 8 and Intuitive Machines in mid-February.
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The missions come amid increased activity around the moon, with Japan and India recently conducting successful lunar landings.
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NASA views partnerships with private companies as a way to quickly and cost-effectively advance lunar exploration to pave the way for returning astronauts to the moon.