The MoonNEXT Mission: a European Lander at the Lunar South Pole

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.2.B8

Author

Ms. Berengere HOUDOU, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Detlef Koschny, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Alain Pradier, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Diego De Rosa, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Andrew Caldwell, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Year

2008

Abstract

In the frame of the Aurora Exploration Programme, the European Space Agency is currently leading several Phase A studies of a “Lunar Lander with In-situ Science and Mobility”.

Such a mission, also called “MoonNEXT” (Next Exploration Science and Technology) mission, is foreseen to be launched from Kourou with a Soyuz in 2016. The main technological objective is to perform soft precision landing with hazard avoidance on a strongly illuminated site at the Moon’s South Pole. This autonomous approach would complement the European landing capabilities acquired through the ExoMars mission, while demonstrating a technology key for landing on rough and unpredictable terrain, for targeting special areas of interest and for surface rendez-vous.
This mission builds on a significant technology development effort ongoing in Europe.

MoonNEXT will also carry out important scientific investigations and, in the baseline mission configuration, the payload is shared between the Lander and a Rover. MoonNEXT will advance our understanding of the origin, structure and evolution of the Moon by performing a range of geophysical and geochemical investigations, and assess the value of the lunar surface as a future site for performing science from the Moon, using radio astronomy as an example. It shall also prepare for future lunar exploration activities by characterizing the lunar surface environment, performing relevant life science investigations and testing technologies key for exploration. 

The MoonNEXT mission presents thus an interesting combination of technological, scientific and exploration-preparation objectives, which are in line with the recently agreed Global Exploration Strategy. This paper will present the technical and scientific scope of MoonNEXT, as defined at this point in time. 

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.2.B8.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)