A LEO to Moon
- Paper number
IAC-07-A3.6.A.08
- Author
Mr. Carsten Henselowsky, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Ralf Jaumann, German Aerospace Center, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Norbert Henn, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Friedhelm Claasen, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
- Coauthor
Mr. Manfred Langemann, EADS Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Dominik Lang, OHB-System AG, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Within the framework of a study to be conducted by industry in the course of 2007, Germany investigates the concept for a national Orbiter Mission to Moon. Findings of this analyze, in terms of requirements and boundary conditions with regard to the mission will be presented. In November 2006 the German Space Agency (DLR) hosted the national conference “Exploration of our Solar System”. This meeting experienced strong interest by the scientific community as well as by space industry. The conference has proven that besides the Mars and other possible destinations, the Moon is definitively of significant scientific potential and still comprises big question marks. Encouraged by the success of this event and the interest it has received, Germany reoriented its goals related to solar system exploration and shaped out further steps. Outcome of this process was the follow on examination of framework conditions for a scientific driven Lunar Exploration Orbiter (LEO) mission, supported by leading edge technology. In the aftermath, DLR requested the national scientific community to submit dedicated proposals for a possible scientific instrumentation of a lunar orbiter. Prerequisite was to provide proposals of scientific excellence and added value compared to other missions to Moon at international stage, planned in the near timeframe. The proposals received by the science community impressively have shown that it is possible to put together such a value adding instrument suite which justifies further development of the LEO mission. From these experiments and instruments a draft model payload has been defined for mission analysis by industry. The paper to be presented deals with the results of this concept analyze. The most visible mission goal will be the global mapping of lunar surface with high spatial as well as spectral resolution. Therefore in addition to a stereoscopic mapping a screening of the electromagnetic spectrum within a very broad range will be performed. To reach the aspired high spatial resolution a 50 km polar orbit is strongly demanded, with all mission requirements successive. A mission operation period of four years will be needed to guarantee the global surface capture. Over and above the determination of the dust distribution in lunar orbit as well as magnetic and gravitational field measurements are also under consideration. Launch of LEO is pondered for 2012 / 2013.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-A3.6.A.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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