First Ever Mission to Moon's South Pole: New Telescope to Launch

We may be getting a better look at our moon's south pole in 2015. The International Lunar Observatory Association and Moon Express have hatched a plan to launch a telescope to the moon in 2015. The new instrument will rest on the lunar surface, taking images of stars, galaxies and planets.

Known as the International Lunar Observatory Precursor (ILO-X), the new telescope is still being tested and developed. However, two space companies are planning for it to become the first privately sponsored lunar telescope. Not only that, but the telescope will be made available to citizens across the world once it's placed on the moon. Researchers, students, educators and the general public will be able to access the astronomical images through the internet.

This internet-based access and control system is already functioning pretty well. In December, science teams from around the world accessed and operated a prototype of the instrument as if it were on the moon. Needless to say, the test was a success, paving the way to the current stage of the telescope's production.

The current plan is to place a 2-meter radio antenna with a smaller optical telescope on a lunar people--probably the rim of a crater called Malapert. This vantage point will give the instruments a view of the center of our Milky Way galaxy, unhindered by Earth's hazy atmosphere, according to Wired. Since Malapert is located on the south pole, the instruments will also face less extreme temperature swings which could potentially harm them in other locations.

"The primary goal of the International Lunar Observatory is to expand human understanding of the galaxy and cosmos through observation from our moon," said ILOA founder and director Steve Durst in a news release. "We are extremely excited about sending the ILO-X to the moon as soon as possible, and continuing our progress toward a permanent human presence on the moon."

The new effort could allow us to see unprecedented images of our galaxy. The fact that the telescope will also be available to citizens also makes it appealing. That said, there's still a long way to go when it comes to successfully launching and positioning the instrument. Currently, researchers are working to launch ILO-X in 2015.