Lunar Mission One: flight to the moon at the expense of Kickstarter users

An interesting project recently announced by British scientists from the UK. The Lunar Mission One team is going to send a robotic probe to an Earth satellite to study the possibility of establishing a long-term base on the Moon. Project participants include specialists from University College London and Open University.

In addition to studying the possibility of establishing a base on the Moon, scientists plan to analyze samples of lunar soil (sampling will be done from subsurface layers of the soil, the probe will drill the surface of the moon). In total, the implementation of the first phase of the project requires about 700 thousand euros. As indicated in the title, funds will be collected on Kickstarter. As usual, investors who supported the project will receive various bonuses. Among other possibilities - sending an encapsulated sample of its own DNA, a photograph or some text (in digital video) to the Earth’s satellite. This opportunity is open to users who have made a deposit in the amount of 45 euros.
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The total amount required for the full implementation of the Lunar Mission One mission is approximately 600 million euros. All funds are planned to receive from people supporting the project (not necessarily on Kickstarter). The authors of Lunar Mission One indicate that the materials sent to the moon (hair, for example) should be preserved for hundreds of millions of years. A sample of your own hair can be sent to the moon, making a contribution of approximately 60 euros. You can even send a short video, it will cost about 250 euros. For digital content (photo, video) a special drive will be placed inside the probe. The device configuration is not disclosed yet.



According to scientists, people who make a contribution will actively participate in the project, and not just watch its implementation. Supported project users will be able to choose a landing site and some other things.

In principle, public financial support for such projects is excellent, but I would not like, of course, that too many foreign objects appear on the moon, sent by people who paid the same 45-250 euros.