NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View has been assigned to create the nation's first Lunar Science Institute, linking researchers around the country to study every aspect of the moon's geology, history and chemistry as the space agency prepares for the next round of missions to the moon.The new institute will begin work next year and will quickly become "the nexus for lunar science," Ames director S. Pete Worden said after Tuesday's announcement. It will disburse research grants to scientists in much the same way that NASA's Astrobiology Institute - also at Ames - distributes $30 million each year to scientists at about 15 satellite institutes nationwide.
Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's science missions, described Ames's assignment to manage the new lunar institute as an exciting advance.
The institute's research teams, Stern said, will "address topics in basic lunar science, as well as astronomical, solar and Earth science investigations that could be performed from the moon."
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