Scientists sign declaration in support of German Lunar Mission

Sixty nine of Germany's leading scientists have signed a declaration in support of the Lunar Exploration Orbiter (LEO) mission. The uncertain future of LEO, a planned German mission to the Moon, will be a central topic of discussion at the European Planetary Science Congress in Münster on Friday 26th September.

The unique proposal and the high scientific and technological aims of this mission have drawn global attention. However, this ground-breaking demonstration of German capabilities is in danger of being cancelled: the German Ministry for Economy and Technology has not allocated funds for the development of the mission in the 2009 budget and the project has been deferred.

The LEO mission will carry fourteen innovative experiments from Germany, in order to globally explore the Moon using different techniques. LEO will accomplish this at a spatial resolution and accuracy that previously has never yet been achieved on a global scale.

A major goal is to produce high quality data sets that will serve as a basis for future lunar exploration. The spacecraft will map the topography, mineralogical and chemical composition, magnetic and gravitational fields, as well as determine specific properties of the lunar soil, and the cosmic environment of the Moon. Thus, LEO represents an important component of scientific and technological exploration that will complement missions from Japan, China, India and the United States.

The LEO mission also aims to secure Germany's top position in the field of planetary research. The mission partners, including representatives from German space industry (EADS Astrium, OHB SYSTEMS, Kayser-Threde, DJO, Zeiss), the DLR (space operations center, planetary and radar reconnaissance, remote-sensing data center), universities and the Max Planck Society have proven in the past that they are capable of conducting complex missions. Because of this experience, NASA has signalled interest in the planned LEO survey and mapping for use in the American lunar program.

A detailed mission concept has been drawn up over the past two years by the scientists, industrial partners and the DLR space agency involved.

In addition to the scientific and technological goals of the mission, LEO offers one-of-a-kind educational opportunities for young engineers, technicians and scientists. LEO aims to provide a showcase for German research, education and technology by demonstrating that Germany has the capacity to put together a national spaceflight project on this scale. Career opportunities for young people in the fields of space research and technology, particularly at German universities, should be emphatically improved by the LEO mission. The migration of highly qualified scientists from universities and research establishments should also be curtailed.

The LEO concept team have put in place what they hope will be a trendsetting outreach programme to bring the exploration of space into the public's interest in a unique ways:

• Germans and the world will be able to follow the mission on a daily basis — with new images, movies and results published on the web every day
• young students will take part in mission planning and data analysis alongside LEO scientists
• university students in graduate programs will profit from LEO

The German aerospace agency has proven the feasibility of this national lunar mission in corporation with German industry and universities. A national Moon mission will be able to demonstrate in a unique way Germany's competence in science and technology as applied in the field of robotic space exploration. The competitiveness of German space technology would be boosted considerably. Looking to the future, the visibility of such an endeavour will greatly enhance the significance of science and technology, as well as the next generation's enthusiasm for this subject area.

Source: Europlanet
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