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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nasa 'to support UK Moon mission' | Nasa 'to support UK Moon mission' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Nasa is very likely to support plans to send a British probe to the Moon, BBC News has learned. | Nasa is very likely to support plans to send a British probe to the Moon, BBC News has learned. |
| The proposal to send a unmanned mission called Moonlite into orbit around the Moon has the backing of those planning Nasa's own return to the Moon. | The proposal to send a unmanned mission called Moonlite into orbit around the Moon has the backing of those planning Nasa's own return to the Moon. |
| The US space agency's administrator, Dr Michael Griffin, has said that he is keen to use UK expertise to carry out scientific studies. | The US space agency's administrator, Dr Michael Griffin, has said that he is keen to use UK expertise to carry out scientific studies. |
| In future, Britain might set up observatories on the lunar surface. | In future, Britain might set up observatories on the lunar surface. |
| 'Right boxes' | 'Right boxes' |
| A Nasa study to be published in January has described the plan as "inspirational" and concludes that it fills just the right gap in the US agency's exploration programme. | A Nasa study to be published in January has described the plan as "inspirational" and concludes that it fills just the right gap in the US agency's exploration programme. |
| 'Penetrator' test | 'Penetrator' test |
| As a result of such a glowing report, it is understood that Nasa will ask the UK space community to carry out a detailed feasibility study by the end of the summer. | As a result of such a glowing report, it is understood that Nasa will ask the UK space community to carry out a detailed feasibility study by the end of the summer. |
| "At the moment it is extremely likely that it will happen," the project's lead researcher, Alan Smith of the Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory, told BBC News. | "At the moment it is extremely likely that it will happen," the project's lead researcher, Alan Smith of the Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory, told BBC News. |
| "We've got to get our ducks in order, but I think the plan ticks all the right boxes and its extremely likely that we will have the first British mission to the moon launched in 2012," Professor Smith said. | "We've got to get our ducks in order, but I think the plan ticks all the right boxes and its extremely likely that we will have the first British mission to the moon launched in 2012," Professor Smith said. |
| If all goes as expected, Nasa will officially back the project and become involved next summer. | If all goes as expected, Nasa will officially back the project and become involved next summer. |
| It is thought that the Indian Space Agency will also be a partner, but Professor Smith says the project will be UK-led. | It is thought that the Indian Space Agency will also be a partner, but Professor Smith says the project will be UK-led. |
| "The UK needs this sort of thing," he explained. | "The UK needs this sort of thing," he explained. |
| "It will inspire future researchers in these areas; it will inspire young people to get into physics and engineering. It will give UK industry a great lift." | "It will inspire future researchers in these areas; it will inspire young people to get into physics and engineering. It will give UK industry a great lift." |
| The idea is to send a probe to orbit the Moon, and the spacecraft would then fire four suitcase-sized darts called "penetrators". | The idea is to send a probe to orbit the Moon, and the spacecraft would then fire four suitcase-sized darts called "penetrators". |
| These would quite literally enable scientists to scratch below the lunar surface. These would hit the Moon at extremely high speeds, about 300m/s (1080km/h) and penetrate to a depth of two metres. | These would quite literally enable scientists to scratch below the lunar surface. These would hit the Moon at extremely high speeds, about 300m/s (1080km/h) and penetrate to a depth of two metres. |
| US/UK Moon mission | US/UK Moon mission |
| Once embedded in the surface, instruments in the penetrators would listen out for "Moonquakes". | Once embedded in the surface, instruments in the penetrators would listen out for "Moonquakes". |
| Analysis of these tremors would shed more light on the chemical and physical structure of the Moon's rocky interior. | Analysis of these tremors would shed more light on the chemical and physical structure of the Moon's rocky interior. |
| 'Own astronauts' | 'Own astronauts' |
| The Moonlite concept has been developed by Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory (MSSL) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). | The Moonlite concept has been developed by Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory (MSSL) and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL). |
| Nasa administrator Dr Mike Griffin said he was delighted that the UK was pushing forward with the mission. | Nasa administrator Dr Mike Griffin said he was delighted that the UK was pushing forward with the mission. |
| "The UK may be geographically small but remains one of the world's largest economies," he told BBC News. | "The UK may be geographically small but remains one of the world's largest economies," he told BBC News. |
| "I think for the UK to decide to step forward into space exploration, which is one of the new human frontiers, is all to the good." | |
| Dr Griffin added that he also wanted the UK to have its own astronauts in future. | Dr Griffin added that he also wanted the UK to have its own astronauts in future. |
| "I think enormous benefit would accrue to the UK in joining what I often refer to as the world's human space flight programme," he suggested. | "I think enormous benefit would accrue to the UK in joining what I often refer to as the world's human space flight programme," he suggested. |
| "The space station programme is approaching a point where it will behind us; it will be deployed, it will be operational. The UK chose not to join that programme." | "The space station programme is approaching a point where it will behind us; it will be deployed, it will be operational. The UK chose not to join that programme." |
| But, Dr Griffin added: "The time is now to decide if the UK wants to join the next phase of human space flight, which will involve a return to the Moon sometime in the next decade. | But, Dr Griffin added: "The time is now to decide if the UK wants to join the next phase of human space flight, which will involve a return to the Moon sometime in the next decade. |
| "I would very much like to bring our oldest and closest ally into that partnership." | "I would very much like to bring our oldest and closest ally into that partnership." |