Lunar Polar Sample Return Mission

Paper number

IAC-16,A3,2A,9,x34484

Coauthor

Mrs. Antonella Ferri, Thales Alenia Space Italia (TAS-I), Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Franco Fenoglio, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Stewart Pelle, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Maria Antonietta Perino, Thales Alenia Space Italia, Italy

Year

2016

Abstract

In the last years, the interest in the Lunar South Polar region has grown significantly within the international exploration and science community, fueled by the abundance of new data acquired by the fleet of orbiter missions which have been sent to the Moon in the past decade. 

The next step in exploration of this important region requires direct investigation of the surface and the material there, both through in-situ measurements and via a sample return. 

Thales Alenia Space is leading an ESA study to design a Lunar Polar Sample Return (LPSR) mission as a joint ESA-ROSCOMOS exploration mission.

The mission objective is the retrieval of water ice samples from the lunar South Pole and return them back to Earth still in a solid state.

The principal objective of this activity is the definition of a feasible mission scenario and assess the European system elements of the Lunar Polar Sample Return (LPSR) mission architecture with particular regard to the sampling & return phases, including:
\begin{itemize}\item Sample Handling & preservation from the lunar surface to retrieval on Earth\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Lunar Ascent Vehicle\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item In-orbit Rendezvous and Capture\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Orbiter Module \end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Earth Return Vehicle\end{itemize}
\begin{itemize}\item Earth Return Capsule\end{itemize}

This paper will present the pre-Phase A  results of the study.

Abstract document

IAC-16,A3,2A,9,x34484.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,A3,2A,9,x34484.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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