Thomas Lee Elifritz

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/lunarlander/SEMS5CA573H_0.html

http://robotics.estec.esa.int/ASTRA/Astra2011/Presentations/Session%203A/01_fisackerly.pdf

http://arxiv.org/abs/1207.4965

Scientific Preparations for Lunar Exploration with the European Lunar Lander, James D. Carpenter, Richard Fisackerly, Diego De Rosa and Berengere Houdou, Accepted for Publication in Planetary and Space Science

This paper discusses the scientific objectives for the ESA Lunar Lander Mission, which emphasise human exploration preparatory science and introduces the model scientific payload considered as part of the on-going mission studies, in advance of a formal instrument selection.

Now imagine landing a 300 foot tall skyscraper covered with solar cells using a highly modified deep throttleable J2-S.

Instant lunar base.

http://webpages.charter.net/tsiolkovsky/Moon_Mission.pdf

Update : Space News Article

Update 2

The proposed ESA lunar lander has been either cancelled or postponed by the governing bodies in lieu of an Ariane V upper stage upgrade and enhancement – Ariane ME mid-life enhancement and the Vinci restartable cryogenic upper stage engine.

Spaceflight Now Article

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