The first private mission to deep space is gathering momentum. Russian-Israeli billionaire Yuri Milner wants to hunt for life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, and planning with NASA is already underway, according to documents obtained by New Scientist .

Agreements signed by NASA and Milner’s non-profit Breakthrough Starshot Foundation in September show that the organisations are working on scientific, technical and financial plans for the ambitious mission. NASA has committed over $70,000 to help produce a concept study for a flyby mission. The funds won’t be paid to Breakthrough but …