In the race to gain an ever clearer view of the universe and its history, the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) and Moon Express (ME) have announces a plan to send a robot to the Moon’s South Pole.
The mission, scheduled for 2016, is just one part of a multi-phase missions that would transform the barren lunar surface into a research laboratory. In the end ILOA & ME would be like to see the moon equipped with its very own observatory, the ILO, capable of multi-wavelength observations as well as communication.
According to Steve Durst, ILOA’s founder, “the ILO will demonstrate the value of the Moon for scientific study of the Galaxy, Moon, Earth, Sun and stars. We are a global consortium of scientists, educators, entrepreneurs and visionaries who seek to establish a scientific presence on the Moon followed by human exploration and eventual settlement."
For even more reasons to establish a permanent presence on the moon listen to Apollo astronaut Jack Schmitt’s call for a private lunar mining industry.
Image and Video Courtesy of Moon Express