From SMART1 and recent probes towards Artemis and a human/robotic Moon Village

Abstract

This paper describes highlights of some of the European Space Agency (ESA) missions to the Moon, such as the 2003 ESA SMART-1 Mission to the Moon and the fleet of orbital missions from 2007 that changed our views of the Moon. It discusses the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) MoonVillage roadmap towards a series of landers or a robotic village, and then a Moon Village with human and robotic permanent presence. The paper shows some technical developments as well as laboratory and habitat simulations, and EuroMoonMars Field campaigns developed to prepare for Artemis, future lunar research stations and the MoonVillage. The new initiatives MVA, ArtMoonMars, EMMPOL, EuroSpaceHub are also described.