Analogs between Antarctica and the Moon: A South Pole Experience for Planning Lunar Missions

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.2.INT1

Author

Mr. Yuki Takahashi, University of California at Berkeley, United States

Year

2008

Abstract

In starting human activities on the Moon, experiences in Antarctica can provide many valuable lessons.  Based on the experience of executing an astrophysics project at the South Pole, environmental and logistical analogs between Antarctica and the Moon are presented.

Since the 1950s, numerous countries have established stations in Antarctica, overcoming many challenges similar to those involved in going to the Moon.  The first time a human reached the South Pole was in 1911; however, 45 years had elapsed before humans returned to the Pole and set up what has today become a vibrant research base.  The Moon may witness a similar history after being abandoned from human presence for nearly 40 years.

Among the various fields of research, astrophysics finds advantages in Antarctica similar to those on the Moon.  Many observatories have been set up around the continent, including neutrino detectors and telescopes at various wavelengths.  One such experiment is the BICEP telescope, which was installed in 2005 at the South Pole to investigate the origin of the Big Bang through the cosmic microwave background.  The entire process of designing, building, transporting, deploying, and operating the telescope has involved many considerations perhaps analogous to those required in executing a human mission on the Moon.

The lunar surface and Antarctica, particularly the south poles of the Moon and the Earth, have many environmental analogs that make them desirable sites especially for astronomy.  Both are extremely cold and dry sites devoid of unwanted interferences.  Both provide stable platforms unlike in free space.  The poles present constant skies and thermally stable conditions during their long nights and days.  The thin dry atmosphere over the Antarctic plateau with months of dark winter makes the South Pole the best site on Earth for an experiment like BICEP.  For planning human missions to the lunar surface, it is beneficial to study the lessons from existing projects and operations in Antarctica.

The remoteness and harshness of both locations also mean similarities in logistics.  Difficult transportation, scarce resources, limited communications, and lack of developed infrastructure have all made Antarctic operations nontrivial and risky.  Lunar projects can benefit from these analogs in planning contingencies, external support, and emergency response.  Examples are presented from the past 3 years of involvement in the United States Antarctic Program, which has been a valuable training experience for future work on missions to the Moon.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.2.INT1.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A3.2.INT1.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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