Ariane 5 based Low Frequency Lunar Telescope - A high value early Lunar Science Infrastructure
- Paper number
IAC-05-A3.4.06
- Author
Prof. Dr. Uwe Apel, Hochschule Bremen, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Hartmut Mueller, EADS Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Science is a major driver for lunar development. A radio telescope on the far side is a key element of a future science infrastructure on the Moon taking advantage of its seismic stability, absence of an atmosphere and separation from terrestrial radio noise. Since at least the first steps of building a lunar surface science infrastructure have to be performed robotically, suitable means of transportation and erection of the telescope must be developed. To start the lunar infrastructure development on a very limited budget, the reuse of already developed elements, specifically considering transportation, is mandatory and will impose mission and vehicle design constraints. Based on the assumption to use on ARIANE 5 ESC-A as the launch vehicle, a lunar radio telescope mission was proposed and analysed. Starting with the mission analysis, firstly a preliminary design of the lander based on ARIANE 5 upper stage components has been performed. The estimated payload capability (mass, volume) to lunar surface was used as an input for a theoretical analysis on the alternatives for automated dispersion of a very large phased array VLF antenna consisting of 30 dipoles. Based on this analysis a viable payload accommodation and dispersion concept was selected and designed in detail. A preliminary ROM cost analysis shows, that the proposed mission can be realised within the typical budget of a medium size ESA science mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-A3.4.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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