- Goal: to create a European infrastructure for exploring the moon
- Lunar orbiter could be launched in 2013
Bremen, 16 March 2007 – At a symposium of the German Aerospace Society DGLR in Bremen this week, experts from the Astrium space company presented their ideas for German and European missions to the moon. The Astrium experts propose to land unmanned space vehicles on Earth’s natural satellite within the next decade in the context of a European programme. In addition, a satellite could be sent into lunar orbit as part of a German national space programme.
More than 30 years after man last set foot on the moon, the space nations are once again turning their attention to Earth’s natural satellite. Not only the USA, but also many other countries such as Japan, India and China are currently working on space programmes destined for the moon. “Europe must be among the participants on this second drive to the moon,” declared Astrium’s Chief Technical Officer Robert Lainé. The conquest of the moon is a worthwhile goal in both scientific and political terms, the Astrium CTO continued. “Those who miss the boat will end up as the losers,” said Lainé.
The goal of the proposition presented by Astrium in Bremen for a European lunar mission, in a project named LIFE (Lunar Infrastructure for Exploration), is to create an infrastructure for the exploration of the moon. A key element of the programme is the construction of a lunar landing device that would on the one hand carry scientific payloads to the moon, and on the other hand be able to take supplies to a manned outpost on the moon. An infrastructure of this kind could be based for the most part on existing technologies that Europe mastered when developing the Ariane 5 launcher and the unmanned space transport vehicle ATV, for example.
In the first stage of the programme, a small demonstrator weighing only about 150 kg would land on the moon. This landing module could carry experimental payloads for geoscience, astronomy and robotics applications. The experience gained with this demonstrator would pave the way for the construction of a lunar lander weighing around 1.5 metric tons. Suitable applications for such an infrastructure would include not only bringing supplies to a manned outpost on the moon, but also setting up a radio telescope on the moon. Radio astronomy can be operated far more effectively from the moon, where the antennas of a radio telescope are not exposed to interference by the Earth’s atmosphere. The Astrium experts have estimated that the European lunar exploration system could go into operation in the year 2017.
A German satellite could set off for the moon considerably earlier than this, namely in the year 2013. Germany already possesses a wealth of technical expertise for this satellite, too. It can be based on a platform similar to those already in use for the national Earth observation missions Champ, Grace and TerraSAR. The satellite could be inserted into lunar orbit with an ion propulsion system also developed in Germany.
A likely payload for the lunar orbiter could be a high-resolution stereo camera similar to the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) installed on board Europe’s Mars Express probe, which delivered spectacular images of the Red Planet. However, other payloads would also be feasible, for instance infrared cameras or radar instruments for investigating the moon’s surface, and navigation and communication payloads.
EADS Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2006, EADS Astrium had a turnover of €3.2 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are: the business units Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, and Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and its wholly owned subsidiary Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.
Astrium Space Transportation is the European specialist for access to space and manned space activities. It develops and produces Ariane launchers, the Columbus laboratory and the ATV cargo carrier for the International Space Station, atmospheric re-entry vehicles, missile systems for France's deterrent force, propulsion systems and space equipment.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of €39.4 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116,000.
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