A rock from the top of Mount Everest, a tiny time capsule from Belgium, a physical "meme" coin, a collection of Reddit posts and a letter from a private astronaut who followed his father into space are now all being delivered to the moon. But it is not NASA nor any of the world's other space agencies that are shipping these items to the lunar surface.
It is DHL.
The same American-founded German logistics company that is perhaps best known for its delivery services across Europe has expanded its worldwide service map to include Earth's only natural satellite.
On Monday (Jan. 8), the first-ever DHL MoonBox lifted off on board the first U.S. commercial lunar lander to launch for the moon. The Peregrine probe, built by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic, left Earth aboard United Launch Alliance's inaugural Vulcan rocket and is now on a path to attempt a history-making touchdown near the Gruithuisen Domes in the Sinus Viscositatis (Bay of Stickiness) on the moon.
"In 2015, we first learned about Astrobotic's ambitious plan to develop a lunar module that would bring cargo to the moon at a significantly lower cost compared to previous missions. Astrobotic had set out to create an affordable solution that would enable everyone to access the lunar surface," a DHL representative said. "Astrobotic's approach aligned with our own mission, which is to connect people and improve lives through reliable and affordable transports around the world."
"This partnership made it possible for individuals to preserve their memories eternally on the moon using the DHL MoonBox, a specialized capsule developed by DHL," the spokesperson told collectSPACE.com. "With this partnership, 'we want to make the moon accessible for all."
