Role and Expectation of Eternal Light Region for Japanese Moon Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-06-A3.6.02
- Author
Mr. Kohtaro Matsumoto, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (IAT/JAXA), Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Mitsushige Oda, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan
- Coauthor
Ms. Sachiko Wakabayashi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISTA/JAXA), Japan
- Coauthor
Ms. Satomi Kawamoto, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISTA/JAXA), Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Tatsuaki Okada, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ISAS, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Takahiro Iwata, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ISAS, Japan
- Coauthor
Dr. Makiko Ohtake, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ISAS, Japan
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Based on the JAXA’s long term vision, “JAXA 2025” in March 2004, Moon Exploration and Utilization have been identified as the important and attractive 1st step program in our space development for the moon and solar system exploration, with the stepping goal of the Human Lunar base around 2025. To realize the Human Lunar base for the lunar exploration and utilization, the polar region and its ELR (Eternal Light Regions) are considered as very important and attractive targets for our technology development and lunar science. ELR is being considered as the most promising 1st Japanese moon landing target within next decade. In this presentation, we will describe our expectation and the role of the ELR with rough concept study results. For ELR, we could expect the following major roles and meanings as our 1st moon landing target. (1) The landing at ELR will similar to land on the top of the mountain from the 100km moon orbit. Thus ELR landing shall require very precise landing technologies, with navigation and guidance sensors and control during its powered and vertical descent phase. (2) At ELR or quasi ELR, we could expect high percentage of sun lighting condition, which could be more than 70(3) At the very near site, PSR (Permanently Shadowed Region) could be found. The distance would be less than 10km. On PSR, the water/ice has been expected as the most valuable ISRU resource for human lunar exploration and utilization. (4) For the lunar science, ELR is also expected for the long term inner structure study of the moon by the low frequency seismograph, that could not implemented on the penetrater. (5) For the astronomy from the lunar surface, ELR at the polar region will be attractive for the operation/survival energy and ELR position itself. (6) Also by the PSR exploration, we could expect many scientific interests, such as the origin of the water/ice, if it is. For this ELR landing by our 1st moon lander, we have expected the SELENE data, not only its original scientific meaning, but also for the selection data of the ELR landing site, and as the essential data of the precise guidance and navigation for the precise landing. SELENE will draw the detailed map of topography, geological features, and moon gravity variation. Those data will also be utilized in complementary with other lunar orbiters, such as LRO, SMART-1, Chandrayaan, and so on, as the essential data of international lunar landing and exploration.
In the presentation, we hope to introduce the quick results of the ELR estimation from the Clementine topography data, the technological comparison of the various schemes of PSR exploration with ELR landing, and the latest status of Japanese moon lander for the lunar exploration and utilization.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A3.6.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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