Italian aerospace giant
Leonardo-Finmeccanica is to build a probe for examining the
moon's surface much deeper than previously thought possible, the
Italian company said Tuesday.
Leonardo will spend two years developing the PROSPECT
probe, a key part of a European Space Agency project in
collaboration with the Russian Space Agency to examine lunar
soil with a view to setting up a permanent base.
In a statement on its website, Leonardo said: "Today at the
Farnborough Air Show, Leonardo-Finmeccanica has signed a
contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the
system that will allow Europe to analyse the Moon's subsoil.
"The project will see Leonardo engaged for two years in the
design, construction and testing of the PROSPECT prototype, a
key European contribution to Luna-Resurs, a partnership between
ESA and Roscosmos (the Russian Space Agency) with support from
the Italian and UK Space Agencies.
"Luna-Resurs should land a probe weighing approximately one
tonne on the Moon in 2021, to search for water and raw materials
that might be used for building a future permanent base.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA