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Space travel startup Golden Spike Co., has hired Northrop Grumman to design a new breed of lunar lander.

Golden Spike hopes to establish a private, commercial exploration route to the moon.

Alan Stern, Golden Spike's president and CEO, tells QMI Agency there's a reason to return again to the lunar surface.

"Because the moon represents the best business case for human exploration in the near term," he says.

No one has booked a seat on trips to begin in 2020, he acknowledges, but says discussions will begin soon.

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A trip would set you back $750 million.