Mona Lisa – A German Perspective For The Exploration Of The Moon

Paper number

IAC-07-A3.I.A.11

Author

Dr. Rolf Janovsky, OHB-System AG, Germany

Coauthor

Coauthor

Mr. Norbert Henn, Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Year

2007

Abstract

Earth’s moon has been re-discovered in the recent past as an attractive target for space exploration with robotic systems and eventually later-on its utilization, including a presence of humans on the natural Earth’s satellite. Compared to interplanetary space exploration, technical, programmatic and cost risk of moon exploration are by far lower. A number of remote-sensing as well as lunar landing missions are now in detailed definition within the international community. Also in Germany the interest to land on the moon is permanently increasing in the scientific as well as industrial community in the recent years. 

In the frame of a study called “Mona Lisa”, which is partly funded by the German space agency, a review of the interests of various groups within Germany was performed. Here, it was the goal to identify the “Best mission to the Moon from a German perspective”. In a first step scientific objectives linked to missions to moon where reviewed as well as the interests of industry and the space agency. It became evident, that German scientists are interested in a huge number of objectives like planetology, gravimetry, cartography, astronomy, life science and lunar sample return. German industry sees missions to the moon as a key to preserve know-how and competencies and to apply systems and technologies developed in the past. From a national point of view it is important to keep and expand scientific as well as technology competences within the nation with the goal of a leadership role, because this provides national prestige as well as enforces the nation’s role in international collaboration. 

Following the identification of mission objectives ten potential missions as well as a set of criteria to evaluate and assess them were established. Then a ranking of the mission proposals relative to the above mentioned goal was created. The top two mission proposals were then defined in more detail, in order to provide more detailed chargeable information. These two missions were conceptually designed and a programmatic planning as a basis for a later programmatic mission decision were provided.

This paper gives an overview of the study performed, the applied methods as well as on mission ranking and the selected concepts.

Abstract document

IAC-07-A3.I.A.11.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A3.I.A.11.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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