The Space Race Returns
A new race for the moon is underway, with countries around the globe preparing to return man to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.India, the US, China, Russia, and even the UK are developing and finessing programmes for a moon landing. Many of these plans are in the early stages, but in its report ‘2006 Space Year in Review’ Ascend, the world’s leading provider of information and consultancy to the global aerospace industry, shows the race is clearly hotting up.
The UK is considering joining NASA’s current space exploration programme, Project Constellation on a bilateral basis. In 2006, NASA chose the Crew Exploration Vehicle for Project Constellation, selecting a design by Lockheed Martin. With a capsule design resembling the Apollo spacecraft, the craft, called the Orion, is a significant move for NASA away from shuttle-like vehicles. Read more