“It is a great pleasure to see progress being made in Europe in the field of space exploration relying on key technologies developed for human spaceflight.”, affirmed Mrs. Di Pippo, ESA Director for Human Spaceflight.“As we prepare ourselves to join the US, Russia and Japan in the decision to utilize the International Space Station (ISS) for ten more years and beyond, we are preparing the next steps and we are working to position Europe at the level of its competences and capabilities within the global exploration undertaking. With a strong and successful presence in LEO, the Moon is the next natural goal on our common path to further destinations. Europe is actively and successfully present in these global projects, like ISS and exploration, which contribute to affirm our role as a modern, dynamic and innovation-driven continent.”, she added.
according to the German press, the Lunar Lander concept is dead, after other ESA member states refused to fund ithttp://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/lunar-lander-europas-mondmission-faellt-aus-a-867718.html
Quote from: plutogno on 11/18/2012 11:56 amaccording to the German press, the Lunar Lander concept is dead, after other ESA member states refused to fund ithttp://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/lunar-lander-europas-mondmission-faellt-aus-a-867718.htmlDang, that's the second ESA project, proposed by Germany, in a few years that get's killed because the other member states refuse to fund it. The first was ARV.
Quote from: woods170 on 11/18/2012 05:14 pmQuote from: plutogno on 11/18/2012 11:56 amaccording to the German press, the Lunar Lander concept is dead, after other ESA member states refused to fund ithttp://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/weltall/lunar-lander-europas-mondmission-faellt-aus-a-867718.htmlDang, that's the second ESA project, proposed by Germany, in a few years that get's killed because the other member states refuse to fund it. The first was ARV.Translation
Lunar exploration activitiesLunar Lander Phase-B1Preliminary SRR actions are being completed by the industrial consortium. The last Mission and System Study tasks are progressing (for example, Monte Carlo campaigns using the Eagle-based Guidance, Navigation & Control simulator). These will ensure a consolidated technical close-out of activities (April 2013), and a good basis for moving forward with work on key technologies. The Lidar breadboarding was completed in February: a design concept is available and was tested at component level.Lunar Exploration New StrategyThe Moon remains one of ESA’s three exploration destinations. Following the negative outcome for the Lunar Lander proposal at 2012 Ministerial Council, a new approach is being developed in cooperation with Russia on a sequence of missions: Luna-Resurs lander (critical European contributions to be adapted to the Russian platform, such as drill and landing technologies) and Lunar Polar Sample Return (a full-scale cooperation at missionelement level). Exchanges have started with Roscosmos, based on discussions held in 2012. To prepare for the 2014 Ministerial Council, development activities for Luna-Resurs under ESA’s General Support Technology Programme funding are being proposed.