Challenges and innovative technologies for a low cost lunar mission

Recent technology advances e.g. in microelectronics, nanotechnology, the fabrication of new materials and the development of new types of miniaturized instruments and communication systems at higher frequencies has opened up many new applications for Earth observation and planetary missions especially for small satellites. This paper is an attempt to summarize limitations and restrictions as well as potentials and future perspectives of All Electrical Small Satellites up to about 150–170 kg for a Moon mission.