European/NASA Space Cooperation May Lead to British Astronaut on the Moon

[Buster's Uncle]

European/NASA Space Cooperation May Lead to British Astronaut on the Moon
By Mark Whittington | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Tue, Nov 20, 2012.. .


According to UPI, the European Space Agency, meeting in Naples, Italy, on Nov. 20-21, is mulling a proposal to join in the development of NASA's Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle designed to take astronauts beyond low Earth orbit.
 
This in turn would mean that ESA astronauts would be included in expeditions back to the moon, Earth-approaching asteroids, and ultimately Mars. The prime candidate for inclusion in such an expedition is Tim Peake of Great Britain.
 
Europe to pay for Orion's service module

According to a story by the BBC, the plan would be for the European Space Agency to pay for the development of the Orion's service module. The service module, similar to the one that was part of the Apollo space capsule, would provide propulsion, avionics, power, and life support for the Orion. The cost is pegged at being several hundred million Euros.
 
Europe may be constrained by a bad economy

The New York Times reports the Europe's space ambitions may be hampered by the current economic crisis, which is falling heavily on members of the European Union. The member states of the ESA are being asked to approve a 12 billion euro budget over the next three years. There are more ideas for European space projects than there is money to pay for it, however.
 
Tim Peake could be the first Briton on the moon

The UK Guardian speculated that should the ESA become, in effect, a partner in NASA's deep space exploration program, European astronauts would be included in expeditions beyond low Earth orbit. The piece touts Tim Peake, an ESA astronaut and a former helicopter pilot in the British Army as being possibly the first Briton to walk on the moon. Peake, who may also participate in a mission to the International Space Station, has also participated in a NASA sponsored sojourn at an underwater base Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO that simulates long duration stays in space.



If and when Peake flies in space, he will be the first Briton to do so while neither on a private expedition, like Helen Sharman, nor after having become an American citizen, like Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick. Where Peake or any other European may go on a deep space expedition, either to the contemplated deep space station at the Earth/moon L2 point or elsewhere depends on how NASA's space exploration plans develop over the next several years.
 

http://news.yahoo.com/european-nasa-space-cooperation-may-lead-british-astronaut-201500386.html