Scientific Preparations for Lunar Exploration
6 & 7 February 2012
ESA/ESTEC - Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Introduction
Recent years have seen an international resurgence of interest in exploration of the Moon, with new missions from several countries including the USA, Japan, China and India. Across the world there are plans for further exploration of the Moon both in national agencies and in the private sector. The Moon is increasingly seen as an important target for future exploration, providing new and unique opportunities for scientific research and yielding both cultural and economic benefits to those who participate.
Working and operating in the complex lunar environment and exploiting the Moon as a platform for scientific research and further exploration poses major challenges. Underlying these challenges are multiple fundamental scientific unknowns regarding the Moon’s surface, its environment, the effects of this environment and the availability of potential resources.
The workshop is an opportunity to explore the extensive and interdisciplinary research that has already been performed in the area of scientific preparation for exploration of the Moon and beyond and to make the case for further work.
While a programme of comprehensive and sustained exploration may seem someway off, we have an opportunity now to do the science that will enable the exploration programmes of the future.