US plans new moon landing in 2018
The United States will send four astronauts to the moon in 2018 in a major return to its pioneering manned missions into space, Nasa administrator Michael Griffin announced Monday.
Nasa is to design a new rocket based on the technology from its ageing shuttles that are to be retired in 2010, Griffin said. A new ship could be orbiting in space by 2012.
The last manned mission to the moon was the Apollo 17 rocket in 1972. The new mission will also launch preparations to set up a permanent base on the moon, Griffin said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. He estimated the cost of the return to the moon at 104 billion dollars and insisted it should not be affected by rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina or the Iraq war.
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