Newt Gingrich and an eclectic band of NASA skeptics are trying sell President Donald Trump on a reality show-style plan to jump-start the return of humans to the moon — at a fraction of the space agency’s estimated price tag. The proposal, whose other proponents range from a three-star Air Force general to the former publicist for pop stars Michael Jackson and Prince, envisions creating a $2 billion sweepstakes pitting billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other space pioneers to see who can establish and run the first lunar base, according to a summary of the plan shared with POLITICO. Story Continued Below That’s far less taxpayer money than NASA’s anticipated lunar plan, which relies on traditional space contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin and is projected to cost $50 billion or more. Backers of the novel approach have briefed administration officials serving on the White House National Space Council, several members of the group confirmed, though they declined to provide specifics of the internal conversations. Trump has yet to weigh in on the idea, at least publicly. But the proposal, designed to offer a big incentive for private players who are already planning their own moon missions, comes… Read full this story
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