LunarEX—a proposal to cosmic vision

Smith, A.; Crawford, Ian; Gowen, R. A.; Ball, Andrew; Barber, S. J.; Church, P.; Coates, A. J.; Gao, Yang; Griffiths, Andrew D.; Joy, K. H.; Phipps, Andy; Pike, Tom; Scott, R. L.; Sheridan, S.; Sweeting, Martin; Talboys, D. L.; Tong, C. H.; Wells, Nigel; Biele, Jens; Chela-Flores, Julián; Dąbrowski, Bartosz; Flannagan, J.; Grandé, M.; Grygorczuk, J.; Kargl, Günter; Khavroshkin, O. B.; Klingelhoefer, G.; Knapmeyer, Martin; Marczewski, Wojciech; McKenna‐Lawlor, S.; Richter, Lutz; Rothery, David A.; Seweryn, K.; Ulamec, Stephan; Wawrzaszek, R.; Wieczorek, M. A.; Wright, I. P.; Sims, Mark R.

doi:10.1007/s10686-008-9109-6

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In the Apollo data set we find 45% far-side candidates using the LOCSMITH location scheme, reopening the question of far-side seismicity (Binder, 1980;Nakamura, 2005;Bulow et al, 2007). Recent proposals for new lunar seismic missions employ individual far-side clusters (Cohen et al, 2009;Smith et al, 2008), e.g. A033 as one of the best located far-side clusters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

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Uncertainty of Apollo deep moonquake locations and implications for future network designs

Hempel

Knapmeyer

Jonkers

et al. 2012

Icarus

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Smith et al, 2008;Jones et al, 2010;Wieczorek et al, 2010). The International Lunar Network (Cohen et al, 2009) is a joint mission proposal of seven space agencies, which expands the amount of data accumulated and therewith the number of possible studies to answer questions considering the lunar interior structure and evolution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncertainty of Apollo deep moonquake locations and implications for future network designs

Hempel

Knapmeyer

Jonkers

et al. 2012

Icarus

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“…Penetrators were earlier proposed for the UK (United Kingdom) led Moon-LITE mission with significant NASA and international support, and later rebadged as LunarEX [55] for an earlier ESA call (which was unsuccessful at that time).…”

Section: Penetratorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lunar Net—a proposal in response to an ESA M3 call in 2010 for a medium sized mission

et al. 2011

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Emplacement of four or more kinetic penetrators geographically distributed over the lunar surface can enable a broad range of scientific exploration objectives of high priority and provide significant synergy with planned orbital missions. Whilst past landed missions achieved a great deal, they have not included a far-side lander, or investigation of the lunar interior apart from a very small area on the near side. Though the LCROSS mission detected water from a permanently shadowed polar crater, there remains in-situ confirmation, knowledge of concentration levels, and detailed identification of potential organic chemistry of astrobiology interest. The planned investigations will also address issues relating to the origin and evolution of the Earth-Moon system and other Solar System planetary bodies. Manned missions would be enhanced with use of water as a potential in-situ resource; knowledge of potential risks from damaging surface Moonquakes, and exploitation of lunar regolith for radiation shielding. LunarNet is an evolution of the 2007 LunarEX proposal to ESA (European Space Agency) which draws on recent significant advances in mission definition and feasibility. In particular, the successful Pendine full-scale impact trials have proved impact survivability for many of the key technology items, and a penetrator system study has greatly improved Exp Astron (2012) 33:587-644 589 the definition of descent systems, detailed penetrator designs, and required resources. LunarNet is hereby proposed as an exciting stand-alone mission, though is also well suited in whole or in-part to contribute to the jigsaw of upcoming lunar missions, including that of a significant element to the ILN (International Lunar Network).

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“…(c) The recent interest in lunar science in the UK has led to the development of penetrators by the UK Penetrator Consortium (Smith et al 2008;Gowen et al 2009). These instruments are expected to make in situ measurements at widely separated locations on the Moon with a payload that would allow a variety of measurements on the lunar surface.…”

Section: Earth Analogues Of the Europan Icy Patches And The Penetratomentioning

confidence: 99%

Instrumentation for the search for habitable ecosystems in the future exploration of Europa and Ganymede

Chela-Flores¹

2010

International Journal of Astrobiology

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The extensive evidence of an ocean over a silicate nucleus makes Europa a candidate for the emergence of a second evolutionary pathway of autochthonous life. We argue that the most urgent question in astrobiology is the origin of habitable ecosystems (a question in geochemistry), rather than the alternative search for the origin of life itself (a question in chemical evolution). Since certain Solar System bodies may share a similar geophysical past with Earth, our more modest approach forces upon us the question: Can available instrumentation be the ' pioneer ' in the discovery of habitable ecosystems in geophysical environments similar to the early Earth ? It will be shown that a central piece in this dilemma is the chemical element sulphur (S). The Europan non-ice surficial elements that distort the water-ice absorption bands were found to be widespread, patchy and, most likely, endogenous. The Galileo Mission discovered these patches, which were subsequently confirmed by the 2007 flyby of New Horizons. We argue that penetrators should be inserted into orbital probes in the future exploration of Jupiter's System. Penetrators provide what could be a key instrument in the exploration of Europa, given the adverse space weather in its environment due to the Jovian magnetosphere and radiation. Indeed, there are alternative views on the radiation-induced S-cycles produced on the surficial molecules that are present on the icy surface ; however, S is common to both interpretations. Hence, mass spectrometry should be an essential part of any future payload. The largest S-fractionations are due to microbial reduction and not to thermochemical processes, allowing a test of the hypothesis for the origin of habitable ecosystems. The microbial fractionation of stable S-isotopes argue in favour of penetrators for the survey of the surfaces of both Europa and Ganymede.

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LunarEX—a proposal to cosmic vision

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Uncertainty of Apollo deep moonquake locations and implications for future network designs

Uncertainty of Apollo deep moonquake locations and implications for future network designs

Lunar Net—a proposal in response to an ESA M3 call in 2010 for a medium sized mission

Instrumentation for the search for habitable ecosystems in the future exploration of Europa and Ganymede

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