The BBC reports that NASA is eagerly backing the idea of a British mission to the moon, a plan which could come together as soon as 2012.
The idea circulating in English science communities is somewhat different than the orbiters recently launched by Japan and China. A spacecraft would be set into orbit, but would then fire four devices called "penetrators" at the moon's surface at high speed.
These little love-darts would dig themselves nearly 7 feet below the surface and monitor conditions there, including registering the presence and intensity of "moonquakes," the Beeb reports.
The proposed mission is part of a broader move across Europe towards individual country missions, rather than working exclusively through the European Space Agency. Germany and Italy have also discussed proposals for their own independent missions. The ESA's SMART-1, the continent's first lunar mission, reached the moon for a two year mission in late 2004.
NASA administrator Michael Griffin is quoted by the BBC as pleased by the the UK proposal. His comments take an interesting turn, however. Here's Griffin, from the article:
In a speech last month
(link is PDF file), Griffin reiterated NASA's desire for cooperation with other space agencies (and indeed, joint projects with Europeans have a long and successful history). But NASA's chief focus today is the expensive manned return to the moon, and as yet, this project has not drawn the warm endorsement – or at least the promise of financial and scientific aid – of traditional partners.
Griffin and NASA badly want allies on the way back to the moon. Looks to me like they hope a UK lunar mission could be a step in that direction.
Nasa 'to support UK Moon mission' [BBC]
(Image: The moon shortly after a full eclipse. Credt: ESA)
