LEDA - A FIRST STEP IN ESA LUNAR EXPLORATION INITIATIVE

The proposed ESA Moon Programme is based on a phased approach. The cur rent end goal is the establishment - in Phase 4 - of a lunar outpost t o serve science and the utilisation of lunar resources. The first phas e of this programme of lunar exploration would make a survey of unexpl ored regions on the lunar surface and an inventory of lunar resources by means of remote sensing and by in-situ measurement. It would also d evelop a range of technologies of direct benefit for the later phases of the lunar programme. This article summarises the initial results of an ESA study being performed in cooperation with CNES (F) and ASI (I) .