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Britain eyes its first mission to the moon
Last updated at 15:07pm on 10.01.07Britain could send its first un-manned mission to the moon by 2010 to study the lunar surface and find the best site for humans to inhabit, the BBC has reported.
A report by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., a top British space company, found the cost of space travel had fallen enough to let the government consider such a probe, it said.
Britain's astronomy funding agency, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, was understood to be considering the idea, the broadcaster added.
"We are going to go to the moon in order to generate new business opportunities, science opportunities and develop technology," Surrey Satellite Chief Executive Martin Sweeting, who wrote the report, told BBC News late on Tuesday.
The idea would be to launch two forays to the moon.
The first, named "Moonlight", would fire four darts the size of suitcases onto the moon's surface from orbit to test for quakes, tremors and other data, the BBC said.
If the mission was successful, a second probe, "Moonraker" would be launched with the aim of landing on the moon.
"Moonraker" would search for sites where humans could live as part of a plan by NASA to build a permanently occupied lunar base there, with flights slated to begin in 2020, the BBC said.
Science minister Malcolm Wicks was upbeat about the idea, forecasting that outer space would have an increasingly important economic role for Britain.
"The benefits are enormous not only to science but actually to the economy and what we are going to see in this century is space and British space excellence increasingly becoming part of the British economy and things we are good at," he told the BBC.
Britain's space dreams suffered a blow in 2003 with the failure of the Beagle 2 mission to seek out life on Mars.
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Ground control to Major Tom: The British are hoping to launch a 21st century moon mission (this picture shows Earth in the distance)
Reader views (20)
What a good idea. Thousands of humans could live there and end up polluting and ruining the moon like they've managed to do with the Earth! As they say, there's a price to pay for everything in life.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
What was "moonraker"? Answer = a work of fiction.
- Karl, London
Super fantastic! Love to have the Brits join in the space exploration this way. I hope they can work closely with NASA to assist in reducing their cost and allowing them deep involvment in this great quest.
- Paul, Tampa, USA
It is nice to see that other countries are deciding to take the initiative on plans that have been stalled for a long time here in the states. Although I find it funny that they would choose to name one of the probes after a James Bond movie. Only the Brits.
- Josh, Tallahassee, Florida USA
- Aim high, Brits. America is a nation of explorers, in no small part from your influence. We cheer you on and wish you the best.
- David Shows, Columbia, MS USA
I wish the Brits luck.
- Rob Espanoza, Gaithersburg, MD USA
A lot of good luck for such a bold plan. I hope you can be among the few who have made it to the moon.
- Richard Scoates, Jacksonville, Florida USA
Being British made it will be an absolute success just like our um, oh yeah, the Mars probe.
- Lloyd, London
Bravo for the Brits! Space exploration always pays benefits in terms of basic research and scientific knowledge but also national pride.
- Jim Ezell, Tuscaloosa, USA
Two questions:
1) Can the hardware for 2 lunar probes be funded, built, tested and flown in just 3-4 years?
2) How will the probes get off of this planet? I don't recall the Brits having any kind of boost capability to LEO, let alone lunar operations.
In any event, good luck and best wishes...
- Michael O'Donnell, Tallahassee, FL USA
Hopefully they'll send those goofy looking royals to live on the moon.
- Jim, USA
Good for you guys over in the UK.
BUT beware of the nay sayers. They will be muttering "Take care of home first."
Space investments stimulate the economy at a rate which few other investments can return. Money spent on space is spent here on the ground, not on the moon. Its not like you are loading rockets up with currency and shooting them into oblivion.
Aim high, making sure you have Utopia before trying something new is a dead end to progress. If you mankind had taken such a narrow outlook, we would still be living in a cave somewhere worried about solving the emmissions problem from the ox.
- Ryan Boughton, Chicago, USA
Are we going to lease lunar property to the UK? Hahaha, seriously though - does the USA have a legal claim of ownership on the lunar surface since we landed their first? Not trying to be controversial, I've just been curious about that for years.
- Scott, USA
The British should be a major player in space exploration. The world we know today was shaped by the British more than most would like to admit. Time to get back into the game.
- Mark, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Love the name 'Moonraker'. Tribute, I am sure, to Bond creator Ian Flemming, who would have been most honored to see his sobriquet used for Britain's first foray to the moon.
- Alex Daszewski, Mastic, NY USA
There will always be problems on Earth. If we try to solve them all before spending a small portion of our resources on exploration the exploration will never happen.
- Shane, Ohio, USA
Where do they plan to build the giant cannon?
- Jim, Space Coast , Florida, USA
I love the idea of space travel! Go UK!!! Get back into it!
- Mike, NYC, United States
The UK has a lot of home items to consider first, Pensioners, National Health System, Coastal Defence etc. Look after home first.
A long time UK resident.
- Robert Baker, U.S.A.
It could help with our ailing university departments especially maths, physics and chemistry and would generate new business opportunities. From this point of view it would be good for the country and its people. So let’s stop wasting money on silly projects and get some real jobs back into the market which would require new technologies and also new academic skills. Well I can dream can’t I?
- Steve, London, England
