ESA and ESRIC asked European industries and research institutions to find innovative technical methods for prospecting resources on the Moon. 

In order to establish habitats there, we need ways to collect the resources already present on the Moon and use them in-situ. Prospecting is how we find such resources. Prospecting resources is a necessary precursor to any lunar ISRU activity and constitutes the first step of the Space Resources Value Chain. The technologies, instruments, and data outputs of prospecting missions have significant overlap with traditional science-driven planetary exploration missions. The primary objectives of lunar prospecting include identifying resources and quantifying reserves on the Moon, as well as collecting measurements crucial for the engineering design and planning subsequent excavation operations. Notably, effective prospective missions must yield comprehensive insights into the geochemical and geophysical characteristics of the lunar regolith across the lunar landscape.