Geologic context and potential EVA targets at the lunar south pole

Gawronska, A. J.; Barrett, Natasha; Boazman, Sarah; Gilmour, Cosette; Halim, Samuel; Harish,; McCanaan, K.; Satyakumar, Animireddi V.; Shah, J.; Meyer, Heather; Kring, D. A.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2020.05.035

Cited by 28 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Sites 007 and 011 are among a range of massifs that are generally understood to be blocks of lunar crust that were uplifted by the SPA impact event (Spudis et al 2008). In the upper walls of the Shackleton crater, which lies between sites 007 and 011, anorthosite signatures (Ohtake et al 2009;Yamamoto et al 2012), consistent with the expected crustal composition based on the lunar magma ocean model (Wood et al 1970), were detected and later correlated with rock exposures (Kring et al 2020c(Kring et al , 2020dGawronska et al 2020;Halim et al 2021).…”

Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…In the event that extensive boulder fields or steep (>25°) slopes prevent access to large PSRs, these SSRs may provide alternative areas for volatile exploration and in situ resource utilization (ISRU). Large boulders also form long shadows, creating potential micro-cold traps, similar to Shadow Rock at the Apollo 16 landing site (Gawronska et al 2020). A recent study by Hayne et al (2021) suggests small-scale shadows (<100 m in diameter) remain constant in the polar regions of the Moon, unlike larger ones, which change with time.…”

Section: South Pole Temperature During Summers and Micro-cold Trapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The region is intensely cratered, so the surface has been repeatedly blanketed by impact ejecta. A series of these ejecta layers are exposed in the walls of the Shackleton crater (Gawronska et al 2020) ∼12 km from Site 007. That sequence of material may also be found at or around Site 007 and potentially Site 011.…”

Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While landing terrain slopes greater than 15°can lead to overturn of a lander (De Rosa et al 2012), slopes up to 25°h ave been recommended for crew rovers (Lunar Exploration Science Working Group 1995) based on rover performance and surface terrain during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions. Such values have been used in previous landing site studies (Öhman & Kring 2012;Allender et al 2019;Flahaut et al 2020;Gawronska et al 2020). The Apollo 12 and 14 missions consisted of walking EVAs up to 14°slopes.…”

Section: Topography and Slopesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Conditions and Resource Accessibility at Potential Artemis Landing Sites 007 and 011

et al. 2022

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International efforts are underway to explore the Moon’s south polar region with robotic and human missions. These missions will address key scientific and exploration objectives in a region rich with possibilities, designed to develop a sustained lunar presence. To assist a trade study among six potential landing sites identified for Artemis astronauts, we examined two of those sites: 007 and 011. We find that (1) many craters in the vicinity of Site 007 excavated and expose ejecta from Shackleton and Slater; additionally, numerous craters around Site 011 expose Cabeus and de Gerlache ejecta; (2) dense boulder fields occur near a large permanently shadowed region (PSR) at Site 007 and near the point of highest surface illumination in Site 011, which may affect landing and surface exploration activities; (3) despite some surface roughness, both sites 007 and 011 are traversable and contain exploration targets suitable for in situ resource utilization; (4) sites 007 and 011 receive higher average illumination than previously reported for sites 001 and 004; and (5) PSRs, seasonally shadowed regions, and cold traps at both sites offer opportunities to sample volatiles.

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Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: South Pole Temperature During Summers and Micro-cold Trapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Topography and Slopesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Conditions and Resource Accessibility at Potential Artemis Landing Sites 007 and 011

et al. 2022

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“…Most notably, the Artemis program will land humans on the south polar surface by ∼2025 somewhere in the so-called Artemis exploration zone, that is, the region poleward of ∼84°S (NASA, 2020a(NASA, , 2020b. Currently, most science and mission planning efforts for a crewed and a number of robotic missions focus on a ridge adjacent to Shackleton crater (e.g., Bickel & Kring, 2020;Gawronska et al, 2020;Scoville, 2022;Speyerer & Robinson, 2013;Spudis et al, 2008). Mazarico et al (2011) identified two topographically elevated points (sites 001 and 004) in that area which would provide optimal illumination and Direct-To-Earth communications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryogeomorphic Characterization of Shadowed Regions in the Artemis Exploration Zone

Bickel

Moseley

Hauber

et al. 2022

Geophysical Research Letters

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The Artemis program will send crew to explore the south polar region of the Moon, preceded by and integrated with robotic missions. One of the main scientific goals of future exploration is the characterization of polar volatiles, which are concentrated in and near regions of permanent shadow. The meter‐scale cryogeomorphology of shadowed regions remains unknown, posing a potential risk to missions that plan to traverse or land in them. Here, we deploy a physics‐based, deep learning‐driven post‐processing tool to produce high‐signal and high‐resolution Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow Angle Camera images of 44 shadowed regions larger than ∼40 m across in the Artemis exploration zone around potential landing sites 001 and 004. We use these images to map previously unknown, shadowed meter‐scale (cryo)geomorphic features, assign relative shadowed region ages, and recommend promising sites for future exploration. We freely release our data and a detailed catalog of all shadowed regions studied.

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Lunar shelter construction issues: The state-of-the-art towards 3D printing technologies

Ulubeyli

2022

Acta Astronautica

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Geologic context and potential EVA targets at the lunar south pole

Cited by 28 publications

References 84 publications

Surface Conditions and Resource Accessibility at Potential Artemis Landing Sites 007 and 011

Surface Conditions and Resource Accessibility at Potential Artemis Landing Sites 007 and 011

Cryogeomorphic Characterization of Shadowed Regions in the Artemis Exploration Zone

Lunar shelter construction issues: The state-of-the-art towards 3D printing technologies

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