A proposed space mission around the moon to measure the Moon Radio-Quiet Zone.

Paper number

IAC-06-B5.2.02

Author

Mr. Guido Pagana, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Nicolo Antonietti, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Salvatore Pluchino, Visiting Research Fellow, IRA-INAF Radiotelescopes, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Claudio Maccone, Member of the International Academy of Astronautics, Italy

Year

2006

Abstract

In a series of papers published since 2000 mainly in Acta Astronautica, the senior author (Maccone) dealt with the advantages of the Farside of the Moon for future utilization. Clearly, the Moon Farside is free from RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) produced in larger and larger amounts by the increasing human exploitation of radio technologies. That author suggested that crater Daedalus, located at the center of the Farside, was the best possible location to build up, in the future, one or more radiotelescopes (or phased arrays) to achieve the maximum sensitivity in radioastronomical and SETI searches. 
A radio-quiet region of space above the Farside of the Moon exists and is called the Quiet Cone. The Quiet Cone actual size, however, is largely unknown since it depends on the orbits of radio-emitting satellites around the Earth, that are themselves largely unknown (due to the military involvements). In addition, diffraction of electromagnetic waves grazing the surface of the Moon causes further changes in the geometrical shape of the Quiet Cone. This riddle can be solved by direct measurements of the radio attenuation above the Farside of the Moon performed by satellites orbiting the Moon itself. In this paper we propose to let one or more (low cost) radiometers be put into orbit around the Moon to measure the RFI attenuation at different frequencies and altitudes above the Moon. Nonetheless, the opportunity of adding more payload(s), such as an ion detector and/or a temperature sensor, is evaluated. 
A foreseeable mission presented in this paper exploit the experience gained by working at Project PICPOT , a nano satellite currently under development at Politecnico di Torino to be launched in April 2006, designed under a modular scheme to enhance its future enlargements 
With the scope of measuring the Moon Radio Quiet Zone we present the next generation nanosatellite PICPOT 2. PICPOT 2, the follow-on of PICPOT, is expected to carry a radiometer to measure the radio attenuation. Mission details and system architecture are exposed in the work.

Abstract document

IAC-06-B5.2.02.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-B5.2.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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