10:50pm UK, Monday September 19, 2005

The United States is planning to send four astronauts to the moon in 2018.

It will mark a return to its pioneering manned mission into space and was announced by NASA administrator Michael Griffin.

180 NASA Moon Spaceship

Landings project back on

NASA is to design a new rocket based on the technology from its ageing shuttles that are to be retired in 2010.

The new rocket could be orbiting in space by 2014.

The last manned mission to the moon was the Apollo 17 rocket in 1972.

But the new mission will enable preparations to set up a permanent base on the moon, Mr Griffin said.

The NASA chief estimated the cost of the moon programme at $104bn.

He said the new rocket would be "very Apollo-like, with updated technology. Think of it as Apollo on steroids."