Expected Benefits

A wealth of benefits would flow naturally from the EuroMoon 2000 mission:

• a unified European approach to the future phased lunar initiative, rather than splintered bilateral efforts

• motivation of new talents and stimulation of the next generation of physicists and engineers, enhancing their interest in pursuing the innovations in science and technology that Europe badly needs to resolve both current and future problems here on Earth, and to develop its future space programmes

• stimulation of innovative solutions, as a result of the mission's short development phase and competitive design philosophy, giving priority to novel management and procurement approaches and rapid assessments and validations using early simulations and tests

• promotion of 'Science of the Moon', with the in-situ exploration of the Aitken Basin, in particular, likely leading to a better understanding of the Moon's origin, and consequently also that of the Earth, and providing the first accurate global digital elevation map (i.e. recovery of the MORO mission's science)

• demonstration of the technologies and operational scenarios needed for future lunar and planetary (Mars) programme elements

• economic and industrial gains from taking the lead in future lunar exploration, making Europe the favoured partner for future international collaboration.

• the ability of the Lander to serve as a beacon and a surveying and communications station, thereby serving as a first 'infrastructure element' for the future evolution of a Lunar South Pole Base.