W. Ockels

Euromoon 2000 is a plan for a Lunar expedition to celebrate Europes entry into the third Millennium. lt is also a first step in a potential new phased programme that will lead eventually to an international lunar manned and/or robotic outpost and will thus give us new opportunities to future generations. This initial step will place the lander at the most promising and unique site for such an outpost, namely on the "peak of eternal light" on the rim of the Lunar south pole crater. From here, the permanently dark areas (frozen volatiles, water?) as well as the largest lunar crater (Aitken) can be investigated by robotic means, supported by the lander as central base. The lander, tobe launched early 2001, could also place 3-4 participating elements of the "Millennium Challenge" on the crater rim who would then race to the actual South Pole. The winner will have the priveledge and honour to name the location of the future human outpost. A small Lunar orbiter, designed by young scientists and engineers, will be launched in 2000 as a Euromoon precursor, and will investigate the Lunar South pole in more detail to enhance the lander success probability. Euromoon 2000 offers a unique opportunity for a new and innovate mission definition, implementation and fund.ing approach characterised by a partnership with industry, sharing the risk and anticipated profits while inviting a broad sponsorship from the public, commercial organisations and the European Union. Benefits range from European unification aspects, educational stimuli, economic, scientific and technological gains. The current ongoing Euromoon pre-project activities utilises some of the preceeding work performed by ESA and its Industrial Contractors on the scientific lunar orbiter MORO and the technology demonstrator lander LEDA during the recent past. A pragmatic approach is foreseen with enhanced success probability through robust mission and system designs with adequate margins, staggered risks, evaluation periods prior to critical commitments and reliable human interaction with short reponse times from ground where -applicable. Euromoon 2000 is potentially a high visibility mission both for general public and the student population of all ages as it will symbolise the spirit of exploration, endeavour and The size of Euromoon 2000 ( cost being less than one Euro per European) is relatively small, but it will provide Europe with an important opportunity to be major partner in the evolutionary process of establishing the first extraterrestrial human outpost. Various European industries (12) have already demonstrated their interest and commitment to the preparatory phase through active participation in the pre-project activities of Euromoon and by sending competent and experienced engineers as integrated members ·of the Euromoon core team. This team of highly qualified industrial and ESA team members could, in the presently established working environment, be compared to a highly trained "sports" team aiming at achieving a coherent set of challenging objectives with the common goal of reaching the Lunar South Pole at the Millennium change. The role of the European Space Agency being that of a coach and catalyst. The project is set up similar to a business: industrial participation is subject to a guarantee of delivery before the funds are created and corresponding rights to a share in the benefits. An extensive marketing effort is foreseen to raise funds and create related commercial products.

10. Raumfahrt-Kolloquium an der Fachhochschule Aachen; 1997

Conference Paper

deutsch

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 26 Seiten

DGLR-Bericht, 1997, 1997-03, 10. Raumfahrt-Kolloquium an der Fachhochschule Aachen; S.221-246; 1997; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn

0,00 €

raumfahrt, lunar exploration, euromoon

Bibliothek

1997