NASA’s International Lunar Network (ILN) Mission
- Paper number
IAC-08.A3.2.B1
- Author
Mr. Brian Morse, JHU APL, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Dr. Alan Stern has introduced a new lunar science program within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD’s) proposed 2009 budget. This initiative provides a robust robotic lunar science program for the next 5 years and beyond, and increases international lunar participation. This science program not only satisfies the NRC’s established lunar science objectives but also satisfies the U.S. Space Exploration Policy’s objective for a robust robotic lunar program. This program solidifies a healthy SMD partnership with NASA’s Exploration System Mission Directorate (ESMD), and will provide much needed flight data to both the lunar science community. This paper will focus exclusively on SMD’s planned second lunar robotic mission, the International Lunar Network (ILN), to be implemented jointly by the NASA’s MSFC and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. A Phase A study is currently underway, and this paper will summarize the results of this study, currently scheduled for completion in early Fall 2008. The IAC will provide an opportunity to summarize, either in part or fully the results of this NASA study to the international community. The International Lunar Network (ILN) is envisioned to establish surface and embedded elements as is necessary to fully characterize and study the seismic and heat flow patterns of the lunar interior. Each node may be a “mini-lander” but other innovative element applications and capabilities will be explored. The U.S. plans to launch the first two nodes in high latitude regions, not later than 2014, and carry an option of launching two more shortly thereafter. Discussions are underway, with NASA’s international partners to provide additional nodes within this same timeframe to tie into this newly established network. Payloads for the U.S. portion of this mission are to be obtained by the Announcement of Opportunity Process (AO). An ILN Science Definition Team (SDT), chaired by MSFC has been established by SMD to define the specific science requirements for this mission. This SDT is expected to formally report-out by mid-summer 2008, and the results of this team will also be summarized in this paper as the driving mission science requirements. The goals of this mission are technically and programmatically challenging, including a not-to-exceed cap of $200 million (excluding payloads but including launch vehicle and reserves), the placement of multiple nodes with one delivery system, and a minimum two-year lifetime in the harsh high latitude lunar environment. Communications solutions are under consideration.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A3.2.B1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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