British scientists to crowdfund £600m mission to the Moon

Crowdfunded lunar mission will put donors’ hair on the moon and will drill deep into the surface to probe the origins of the Earth and the moon.

16:28 19 November 2014

A crowdfunded moon lander, which will drill deep into the surface to probe the origins of the Earth and the moon, has been announced by a British organisation.

 

The cost of the space exploration will come from millions of small payments from the public instead a major investment from the usual national space agencies. 

 

David Iron, a former adviser to the UK government on space projects and the founder of Lunar Missions Ltd, said: “It is increasingly difficult to fund space science and exploration of the kind aimed at developing understanding and knowledge. We are introducing a new form of funding, and if it works we’ll have a legacy that shows it’s possible to fund these missions very differently.”

 

Supporters who pledge £60 will be allowed to upload personal histories, pictures, and videos to digital time capsules that the lander will drop down the borehole once the moon rock has been collected. Meanwhile, those who donate £200 can add hair to their time capsule.