MoonLITE mission moves closer to lift off
05 December 2008
MoonLITE mission moves closer to lift-off
The government has today announced an in-depth ("Phase A") study of the proposed UK MoonLITE mission to the Moon.
Dr Ian Crawford from the School of Earth Sciences at Birkbeck is the Project Scientist for MoonLITE, and has responsibility for coordinating the development of the scientific case for the mission. Commenting on the announcement, Dr Crawford said: "This is excellent news for the MoonLITE project, and the development of lunar science in the UK. It is especially pleasing that the government recognises the value of space missions of this kind for the advancement of knowledge, the development of new technologies, and the inspiration of young people to take an interest in science and engineering."
MoonLITE aims to place four instrumented darts ('penetrators') in the lunar surface for the purpose of making geochemical and geophysical measurements that cannot be made from orbit. If selected, the mission is planned for 2014 and has the potential to make major contributions to lunar science, while at the same time providing knowledge that will be of central importance in the planning of future human missions to the Moon.
Dr Crawford explained that "by deploying a range of instruments to diverse locations on the Moon from which geochemical and geophysical measurements have not yet been obtained, including the poles and the lunar farside, the MoonLITE penetrators have the potential to make major contributions to lunar science. At the same time, they will provide knowledge that will be of central importance in the planning of future human missions to the Moon, and will also demonstrate a technology that will have wide applications for the exploration of other airless bodies throughout the Solar System. Last, but not least, MoonLITE offers the potential for enhancing public interest in science and technology."
At Birkbeck, Drs Katherine Joy and Vincent Tong are also involved in the MoonLITE project. "MoonLITE provides an excellent opportunity for the UK to become directly involved with the global effort to partake in the renewed exploration of the Moon." commented Dr Joy.
In addition to Birkbeck, the UK Penetrator Consortium, which will develop the penetrator technology, includes members from UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) and Department of Earth Sciences, Imperial College London, the Open University, Leicester University, Surrey University and QinetiQ Ltd. The consortium is coordinated by Professor Alan Smith at MSSL.
