European Space Agency (THIS) officially approved the first national mission to the moon in the history of Denmark called “Mon”. Mission, the launch of which is planned for 2029 year, aims to create detailed maps of the Moon's surface.
Key details of the mission “Mon”
Name: “Mon”, which in translation from Old Norse mythology means the Moon.
Goal: The satellite will map the surface of the Moon, especially its north and south poles, with unprecedented detail. The resulting data will help identify safe landing sites for future manned and robotic missions, as well as potential sites for the construction of lunar bases.
Leadership: The mission is led by Denmark - this is the first time, when the country will lead the ESA mission beyond the orbit of the Earth. The project is coordinated by the Globus Institute at the University of Copenhagen.
Partners: The project unites a consortium of Danish and international research institutions and private companies. The main industrial partner is the Danish company Space Inventor from Aalborg, which will develop and build a satellite. Partners from Poland, Slovenia and the Netherlands will also contribute, by providing a telescope, radio transmitter and engines respectively.
Budget: The Danish government allocated for the mission 130 million Danish kroner (close 19 million US dollars), and the total budget of the mission is approx 50 million euros due to contributions from other ESA member countries.
Minister of Higher Education and Science of Denmark Kristina Egelund noted, that mission “Mon” marks a historic shift in Denmark's space capabilities and reflects the country's growing role in international space exploration.
Source: https://lookintothe.space