From: eder@hsvaic.boeing.com (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Lunar landing in 2002
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:23:27 GMT
Organization: Boeing AI Center, Huntsville, AL

ct@dde.dk (Claus Tondering) writes:

>I don't read this group regularly, so this may be a FAQ. In that case
>please accept my apologies, but here goes...

>A friend of mine recently told me that there are definite plans to
>resume lunar flights around 2002 with the aim to establish a permanent
>base on the moon.

The organization I work for at Boeing is called "Planetary Surface
Systems", so I suppose I am as knowledgeable as anybody as to what
is going on in lunar bases.

NASA has maintained an office for the past several years at the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX dedicated to planning the
Lunar and Mars exploration programs.  The personnel in this office
have devised a number of programs over the past few years, and their
plans continue to evolve in the light of new ideas.  Generally, you
can describe the plans as containing a progression of missions.
The names and specific characteristics of the missions fluctuate, but
generally they run as follows:

1. Robotic Missions

This inlcudes a lunar orbiting spacecraft or two to provide high
resolution mapping, and characterization of the lunar geology
using spectrometers of various sorts.  Another objective is better
mapping of the lunar gravity field (it is somewhat lumpy).  These
types of information are generally agreed to be both scientifically
valuble, and useful for planning future manned missions.

The other category of robotic missions are those that land something
on the lunar surface.  The small landers (100 kg class) are going
under the name 'Artemis' currently.  Larger ones range up to
several tons in mass.  The stuff that would be landed includes a
range of science instruments, and prototypes of lunar processing
equipment, up to preparatory equipment for lunar landings.

2. Manned Missions

The definition of the manned missions is still not very good.  The
current concept is something called the 'First Lunar Outpost', which
would be the first manned return mission.  It would carry a crew
of 4 for 45 days, during which they would deploy a 1 meter class
telescope, do drilling of core samples, drive around and pick up more rock
samples, and run a pilot oxygen production plant.

The missions after this are open ended and poorly defined.

Most of the work on these plans has been done in-house by NASA people.
My company (and I assume other aerospace companies) maintain groups
doing parallel work on company funds.  This is speculative on our part,
in the hope that a real program will develop at some point.

For the past couple of years NASA has requested funding to start to
pay contractors to work on these projects.  The US Congress has seen 
fit to deny these requests except at the most minimal levels
($1 million per year).  Boeing and one other company were awarded
contraacts to begin design of the lunar observer mentioned above,
but the contract is un-funded at present because NASA has no funds
they are allowed to use for this purpose.

So, to summarize the answer to your question, there are plans
to return to the Moon.  I would not characterize them as 'definite',
and placing a date on such things in the current budget environment
would be very risky.

Dani Eder

-- 
Dani Eder/Boeing/Advanced Civil Space/(205)464-2697(w)/232-7467(h)/
Rt.1, Box 188-2, Athens AL 35611/Member: Space Studies Institute
Physical Location: 34deg 37' N 86deg 43' W +100m alt.
***THE ABOVE IS NOT THE OPINION OF THE BOEING COMPANY OR ITS MANAGEMENT.***
Newsgroups: sci.space