Dear Gleb,
Is the possible to design and then build an AO system for
planetary(lunar) works like AO for solar works
you referred here
http://www.noao.edu/noao/staff/keller/irao/ ?
With lesser correction elements (say, 12-16 for 12" aperture) and in a
serial manufacturing, I guess, the
cost of such a system will be significantly smaller, that that 25K.
May be custom DSP will help even
more.
VD