Britain on the Moon

[blairf]

Exclusive piece on BBC News at Ten including interview with Wickes (the govt minister responsble) and Sweeting (boss as SSTL).<br /><br />UK is seriously studying solo mission to the moon by 2010. Two main options talked about were lander or penetrator.<br /><br />Implication was that mission to be integrated with VSE, proposals from multiple companies including SSTL.<br /><br />Key enabler was reducing costs of overall mission, no specifics in piece but implications were satellite, launcher costs were now radically lower than previously possible<br /><br />Funding body was the astronomy body (can't remember which one)<br /><br />Hasn't turned up anywhere online yet (hence no URL)

 

[thereiwas]

Here's a link to the BBC video report.<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm<br /><br />The headline text say "The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council said the UK could potentially launch a probe by 2010. "<br />

 

[holmec]

Here is the link to the article<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6246513.stm<br /><br />*Whew*<br /><br />For a moment I thought they were sending brits up there. LOL.<br />Its a couple of unmanned lunar exploration missions, one involving tracking lunar seismic activity and the other being a lander.<br /><br />If you watch the video, the point is to get British companies involved. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[tohaki]

To quote the BBC article:<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Britain's involvement in space has been as a partner in co-operation with Nasa and the European Space Agency (Esa); and that is unlikely to change.<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>It is not surprising that so many Britons seem unaware of the membership in ESA when the British media always writes something like this.

 

[dreada5]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Britons seem unaware of the membership in ESA<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />Many Britons are unaware of ANYTHING to do with space, in general... never mind ESA! <br /><br />In the meantime, Britain has always sat on the line when it comes to working with Europe or US organisations.

 

[3488]

Hmm, Britain going to the Moon, lets see:<br /><br />1). The project will be grossly underfunded & understaffed.<br /><br />2). The spacecraft crashes into the Moon, never to be heard from again.<br /><br />3). The UK government decide to give all the scientists & mission engineers involved an ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order) for six months.<br /><br />4). The UK Government states 'that lessons will be learnt'.<br /><br />5). Gordon Brown our chancellor decides to tax everybody who looks at the moon, (so that is all 60 million British people then) so yet another tax.<br /><br />Do not make me laugh. This mission will never happen, let alone succeed. A great idea, would love to see it so.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

LOL!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[qzzq]

3488,<br /><br />I sense you are a 'the glass is half empty' kind of person. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>***</p> </div>

 

[alpha_centauri]

or a realist! <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[docm]

They already have a booster design <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[scottb50]

I hope they don't insist on Lucas for the electrical system. As owner of an MG, a long time ago, I can attest to the prince of darkness nickname. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[john_316]

Well I don't know about the UK's achievements with ESA but they were smart with such companies like BAE to go further into the US market.<br /><br />I think you Brits could do it if you all put your minds too it... You could always buy a Delta-2 or a Minotaur to launch the probes if you don't want to build your own rockets...<br /><br />Perhaps using those old imperial measurements might work too but don't tell frenchy I said so....<br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[tohaki]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>They already have a booster design <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><p><hr /></p></p></blockquote>Hehe...

 

[dreada5]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>They already have a booster design<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />No, britain had the boosters. The nation just threw them all away with establishment of a new set of poorly thought out, unwise space policies (which has lasted for the past 30 years)!<br /><br />AFAIK, Britian is the ONLY nation to have ever achieved space launch capability and then thrown it away!<br />

 

[dreada5]

Black arrow

 

[dreada5]

Blue streak

 

[3488]

Perhaps Blue Streak was given an ASBO for being too noisy??<br /><br />In all seriousness, the proposed Lunar mission must happen. In the UK right now, we are seeing universities closing Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Science laboratories, because they are not attracting fresh students, due to students going for easy courses such as Art, Media Studies, etc.<br /><br />This country will rely on Scientists, Engineers, etc from overseas as we are not producing them ourselves. <br /><br />Also the United Kingdom are losing the more Scientifically literate to Canada, USA, mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc, because 'there is no work' for them here, unless they are willing to flip burgers in McDonalds for the minimum wage!!<br /><br />Our engineering trades, such as Aerospace, building, plumbing, electricians, etc, is increasingly being done by people from Eastern Europe for low pay, as our own qualified people are either being forced to work for the minimum wage to keep their jobs or refuse to work for peanuts.<br /><br />Hopefully if approved, this Moon mission will be a much needed boost to British Science & innovation.<br /><br />I do fear for the long term prospects for Britain.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>