Italian Robots to Build Telescope On Moon

The Italian Space Agency (ASI) plans to send "MODULAR ROBOTS" to the moon to build a GIANT TELESCOPE, which they say will be used both for gazing into space and spying on Earth. ASI has set aside 150 million Euros and plans on working with the European Space Agency and NASA on getting the robots to the moon.

[The story really hasn't gotten a lot of play, I suspect because the whole idea seems pretty farfetched. Even the U.S. doesn't have the technology to assemble a telescope using robots in the JPL parking lot. No space or robot powerhouse has ever used robots to construct anything beyond the Earth's atmosphere. That Italy wants to do so on the moon starting in 4 to 6 years is -- it has to be said -- just not gonna happen. The Italian site ANSA.IT was first with the story in English (way back on January 4). China View and a smattering of other Chinese sites picked up the story after that on the same day, then UPI picked it up on the 5th. The story hasn't gotten much play yet in the U.S., despite the UPI story -- but it's HUGE in India and China, where both companies are currently betting national prestige on man-on-the-moon programs. The first blog to post the story was ITALY NEWS.]