Feasibility Study Of An Israeli Lunar Mission
- Paper number
IAC-07-A3.I.A.07
- Author
Mr. Daniel Rosenberg, Israel Aerospace Industries. Ltd., Israel
- Coauthor
Mr. Lior Ben Yishay, Technion, I.I.T., Israel
- Coauthor
Mr. Moran Keider, Israel
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The Israeli space program is mature with satellite building and launching capabilities. This study was performed by a group of young space professionals to examine the feasibility of using existing hardware and infrastructure as a basis for an Israeli lunar mission, thus involving Israel in the global effort for lunar exploration. The mission examined is a lunar orbiter, weighting between 180 to 250 kg, with a science payload requirement of 15kg. At the first iteration, existing technology was exclusively used for the design, based on IAI IMPS design. In further iterations the needs of the mission were examined and recommendations on technological gaps that need to be overcome are made. Launch of the probe is based on the Shavit (LK-A). Due to limited payload capability, the transfer to the moon is based on electric propulsion (IHET thruster). The science payload is envisioned to include both national and international experiments.
- Abstract document