Nasa set to support UK moon probe

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According to the BBC, the US space agency would be keen to use UK expertise to carry out scientific studies.

It also revealed in the future, Britain may also set up observatories on the moon's surface.

Earlier this year, it was reported that UK scientists had developed a proposal, called project MoonLite, to send a probe into lunar orbit.

A study to be published in January has described the MoonLite plan as "inspirational" concluding that it fills the right gap in Nasa's exploration programme.

The report is so positive that the BBC believes Nasa will ask the UK space community to carry out a detailed feasibility study by the end of next summer.

If all goes as expected, Nasa will officially back and become involved in the project next summer. It is also thought the Indian Space Agency will be a partner, although the project will be UK-led.

The concept has been developed by Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory (MSSL) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).

The idea would be to send a probe to orbit the moon, which would then fire four suitcase-sized darts called "penetrators" at it allowing the scientists to scratch below the lunar surface.

Once embedded under the surface, instruments in the penetrator would listen out for "Moonquakes". Analysis of these tremors would shed more light on the chemical and physical structure of the Moon's interior.