Britain could mount solo moon missions - USATODAY.com

Report: Britain could mount solo moon missions - USATODAY.com:

LONDON (AP) — Britain could launch a program to send probes to the Moon by 2010 without the backing of Europe's space agency, according to a funding body report, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

The BBC said the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council had produced outline plans for two solo moon missions, claiming the falling costs of technology make the proposals viable.

Britain has carried out all previous space exploration — including the ill-fated attempt to land the Beagle 2 probe on Mars in December 2003 — in conjunction with the European Space Agency or NASA. (more)