The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced tentative plans to send a rover to the surface of the Moon. The MoonNext concept rover will carry out science on the lunar surface, and also do important tests on technologies attached to the rover.
The MoonNext concept is set to be formally unveiled in November, in a key meeting of EU ministers. During the meeting, the rover will demonstrate landing capabilities, as well as abilities to survive on the moon and carry out operations.
Chief scientist Dr Bernard Foing said: "[The mission] is a good way to demonstrate that you can land properly. You will also land in a place that is illuminated so that power and thermal conditions are very good 90% of the time."
