Colonization of the Moon to reach the moon, to offer a hand . . . . The idea is to spread the costs, but also spread the wealth." In 2016, Johann-Dietrich Wörner, the Chief of ESA, proposed the International Moon Village as a non-governmental organization (NGO), and in November 2017, the Moon Village Association was created. This organization aims to promote international discussions to foster the implementation of a permanent human settlement near the lunar south pole. Exploration of the lunar surface by spacecraft began in 1959 with the Soviet Union's Luna program. Luna 1 missed the Moon, but Luna 2 made a hard
Craft of Opportunity Program could be operated from the auxiliary minesweepers. Although not directly a part of COOP, the Defence Maritime Services training ship "Seahorse Horizon" can also be fitted out as an auxiliary minesweeper. By 2012, most of the vessels have been sold or returned to their owners. "Bandicoot" and "Wallaroo" have not been operated as minesweepers since 2010, but were retained until 2014 to provide berthing support for nuclear-powered warships. The drones have been non-operational since 2007, and are due to be replaced by 2013. Craft of Opportunity Program The Craft of Opportunity Program (COOP) was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquisition