Luna 27
Names | Luna-Resurs |
---|---|
Mission type | Technology, reconnaissance |
Operator | Roscosmos |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2020 (proposed) |
Moon lander | |
Luna 27 (Luna-Resurs lander)[1] is a planned lunar lander mission by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) with collaboration by the European Space Agency (ESA) to send a lander to the South Pole–Aitken basin, an unexplored area of the Moon.[2][3] The mission is a continuation of the Luna-Glob programme.[2]
The purpose is to prospect for usable minerals, volatiles, and lunar water ice in permanently shadowed areas of the Moon and investigate the potential use of these natural resources.[2] On the long term, they consider building a habitable base on the Moon's far side that would bring scientific and commercial benefits. [2]
Europe's participation in the mission is due to receive final approval at a meeting of ministers in late 2016. If approved, Europe will contribute with the development of a new type of automated landing system, and will also be providing the 'PROSPECT' package, consisting of a drilling, sampling, sample handling, processing and analysis package.[4] The percussion drill is designed to go down to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and collect cemented ice samples for an onboard miniaturised laboratory called ProSPA.[2][4]
The lander mission was announced in November 2014 by Russia,[5] who is planning the launch for 2020.[1][4]
See also
References
- ^ a b Missions to the Moon Luna-27. The Planetary Society.
- ^ a b c d e Ghosh, Pallab (16 October 2015). "Europe and Russia mission to assess Moon settlement". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "Russia-ESA Lunar Exploration Cooperation: Luna Mission Speed Dating". European Space Agency (ESA). 17 February 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- ^ a b c "PROSPECTing the Moon" (PDF). European Space Agency (ESA). 18 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "Luna-Resurs lander (Luna-27)". Russian Space Web. October 10, 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
External links
Media related to Luna programme at Wikimedia Commons
- Lunar and Planetary Department Moscow University
- Soviet Luna Chronology
- Exploring the Moon: Luna Missions