posted 01-10-2007 04:17 PM               

British scientists unveiled two of the proposals: The first, called "MoonLITE," would fire four missile-like probes into the moon's surface to gauge the body's heat flow and seismic activity; while the second, "Moonraker," would be more akin to the familiar lander.

However, neither proposal was in support of Britain (or ESA) sending its own manned mission to the Moon. Rather, they would support NASA's plans for the same. From Reuters:

"Moonraker" would search for sites where humans could live as part of a plan by NASA to build a permanently occupied lunar base there, with flights slated to begin in 2020...

posted 12-15-2007 11:31 AM               

As a result of such a glowing report, it is understood that NASA will ask the UK space community to carry out a detailed feasibility study by the end of the summer.

"At the moment it is extremely likely that it will happen," the project's lead researcher, Alan Smith of the Mullard Space Sciences Laboratory, told BBC News.

"We've got to get our ducks in order, but I think the plan ticks all the right boxes and its extremely likely that we will have the first British mission to the moon launched in 2012," Professor Smith said.

If all goes as expected, NASA will officially back the project and become involved next summer.