Flagship concept
A credible Scottish contribution to the lunar era.
The Scottish Lunar Programme is a proposed coalition framework for turning Scottish research and engineering capability into bounded contributions to international lunar science and exploration.
This is not a Scottish Government programme and does not imply government authority, agency endorsement, funding, launch access or a confirmed lunar mission.
Programme thesis
Contribute where Scotland can be distinctive and useful.
The programme would not attempt to reproduce a space agency or build an end-to-end lunar mission alone. Its value would come from selecting precise questions, assembling excellent teams and integrating Scottish contributions into larger international architectures.
Candidate work spans lunar instruments, field science, autonomous systems, life sciences, communications and navigation, responsible exploration, data products and education. Each candidate must demonstrate a mission user, a credible evidence path and a clear reason for being organised from Scotland.
Evidence and context
Workstreams
Five starting lines for coalition design.
- 01
Lunar science network
Connect planetary science, geology, sensing, data and responsible resource questions around a reviewed Scottish contribution map.
- 02
Highland analogue missions
Define field campaigns that test instruments and operations while publishing the limits of terrestrial analogy.
- 03
Payload and instrument pathway
Move selected concepts through user need, design review, test evidence, integration constraints and a realistic mission-access plan.
- 04
Human exploration and space health
Develop questions around medicines, diagnostics, microbiology, food, isolation, radiation and health-system resilience with qualified partners.
- 05
Cislunar systems and autonomy
Explore navigation, communications, timing, interoperable data and autonomous operations in the emerging lunar infrastructure.
Development path
A horizon, not a promise.
- 01
Founding coalition
Independent governance design, Scottish and international listening, capability mapping, programme options and stop criteria.
- 02
Reviewed national agenda
Publish the strongest research and mission questions with evidence gaps, owners and realistic resource ranges.
- 03
Analogue and feasibility campaign
Run bounded studies that test scientific value, operational relevance, team performance and public-benefit design.
- 04
Payload partnership
Advance only a concept with an identified mission route, integration partner, funding, technical authority and reviewed test plan.
- 05
Flight contribution
Treat flight as an external outcome that must be contracted and evidenced, never inferred from roadmap position or publicity.
Dates will be published only when funding, partners, technical ownership and mission interfaces justify them.