Spaceflight
By Rob Coppinger in Orlando
Despite NASA’s decision to keep its Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and Ares 1 and Ares 5 launchers solely US systems, it is considering international co-operation for the lunar lander.
The US agency is currently discussing a global exploration strategy with other agencies, such as the European Space Agency. Following a workshop in April there is a synthesis team working on an international architecture for exploring the Moon and Mars. NASA is determining what its Constellation programme will do and what international partners can do. “If internationals came up with a lander, that’s good,” said NASA Constellation programme manager, Jeffrey Hanley, speaking last week at the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Florida.
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| Although the launcher will be US-made, the Moon-landing module could require an international effort |
He added that the agency’s lunar precursor robotic, commercial orbital transportation services and exploration-related technology development programmes all had to be “synchronised”. Just as the Constellation crew and cargo launchers were renamed Ares, the lander is also to be given a project name, which should be unveiled in August.
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