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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Britain considers plans for solo moon missions

Britain is considering plans for its own moon shot, the BBC said, citing plans submitted to the body that funds British space exploration.

Proposals for two missions have been submitted to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, and the first, if approved, could be launched by 2010.

The first potential mission, "Moonlight", would see four metre (yard)-long darts fired two metres deep into the moon's surface from an orbiting probe, giving scientists information about the possibility of "moonquakes" and other data about the moon's centre.

If "Moonlight" were successful, a second mission named "Moonraker" could be launched, sending a spacecraft to the surface of the moon in search of suitable sites for potential manned bases.

According to Professor Martin Sweeting, founder and chief executive of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., which prepared the study for the funding body, the cost of space exploration had fallen enough for Britain to "go it alone".

"Current small missions to the moon cost around 500 million euro (650 million dollars) ... With advances in small satellites we could probably cut the cost by at least a fifth," Sweeting told the BBC.

Source: www.physorg.com/news87589344.html

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Many brits are complaining about this expensive project.

[starbux]

One erroneous premise that the peoples of many countries, including the USA and Britain, hold is that only governments have the means and the will to finance scientific space exploration. If NASA and the like were to suddenly cease to exist, that wouldn't mean that the demand for such research would suddenly dissappear. I think private consortiums, and institutes such as the National Geographic Society, Smithsonian, the Planetary Society, and others would be able raise as much if not more than NASA does through tax collection. Large solicitations by companies or corporations should be welcomed as well, even if it means having a Wal-Mart banner plastered on the launch vehicle. Swallow your pride, it is still better than coercive funding.

Would you not give even more money to finance a project if donations were being solicited voluntarily outside of taxation? Particularly if the specific project(s) fires up your enthusiasm personally? I think many would.

Those who object to their tax monies used for financing space -- however small an amount this may seem in the grand scheme of things -- should at least have their povs respected. Much of our social injustices come from having our money taken away with the threat of consequences if we don't cooperate and used for purposes that we may personally disapprove of, or in some cases even abhor.

If we can't think outside the central-government-do-everything mindset we (in particular the common everyday person, not bureaucratically selected elite) will never leave the planet, and may even regress.