On Monday, NASA administrator Michael Griffin announced a US$104-billion project to return to the moon, nearly 50 years after human first set foot there. The announcement coincided with the 2005 International Lunar Conference, taking place this week in Toronto. Scientists and experts from space agencies and industry are meeting to share plans, ideas, and roadmaps on mankind’s return to the moon-and beyond.
The moon landings will be preceded by sustained robotic exploration. This is in order to map out the lay of the land and the location of important resources, such as frozen water. Because, as NASA chief scientist Jim Garvin put it, “We haven’t conquered the moon. It’s a planet the size of Africa, and we’ve been to six spots the size of a large backyard or farm or ranch.”
But that is set to change over the next few years. No less than five robotic probes from the world’s leading space-faring nations are at, or will soon be heading for, the moon.
America is busily planning the Lunar Exploration Lander, due to touch down in 2010. The European Space Agency’s SMART-1 probe, has been orbiting the moon for nearly a year. Its instruments are determining its mineral composition, and searching for pockets of frozen water at the bottom of meteorite craters near the poles. Results from previous probes have given mixed results as to the presence of frozen water on the lunar surface; the debate might soon be settled.
SMART-1 is also looking for what mission scientist Bernard Foing dubbed “peaks of eternal light.” These are the ridges of craters near the poles, whose geometry is such that they are continuously basked in sunlight for half the year. Foing said such sites would make for good refueling sites for solar-powered robots roving the lunar surface.
The China National Space Agency is launching a craft in 2007. The probe, Chang’e-1, will also survey the moon, and pave the way for a Chinese lunar lander, the Chang’e-2, which may launch in 2012.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is also getting in on the act. Its Chandrayan-1 probe has recently had its launch date moved up by a year, to 2007. Asked whether that was in response to China’s planned launch, Narendra Bhandari, an advisor to the ISRO, dismissed the notion of a space race. “If we wanted, we could actually launch it now,” he told The Varsity. “As far as India is concerned, we are not in competition with China-I don’t know about the other side of the story, though.”
Last is Japan’s Selene. The probe has already been delayed several times due to budget constraints. It will carry many of the same instruments as the rest of the international probes. One notable exception, however, is the inclusion of a high-definition television camera, to be used for public outreach purposes.
Although Canada has no robotic moon missions currently planned, our space program also stands to benefit from these endeavours, according Bob Richards, a space industry expert, and the conference organizer. Canada’s strengths are in robotic exploration, mining and a technology called LIDAR, which uses laser beams to determine an object’s proximity. Richards said Canada can contribute “by finding niche technologies and skills we can add to international programs.”
“The other area we can contribute is to provide another purpose for our astronaut program,” he added. “We would very much like to see Canadians on the moon.”
The Canadian government, however, has not yet drawn up policy on that, and the U.S. federal government has not yet clarified the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) role. “Extending our flight program to lunar activities is something we’re still reacting to,” said CSA program scientist Victoria Hipkin.
