Lunar Interferometric Radio Array (LIRA): A telescope concept uniquely enabled by the far side of the moon

Paper number

IAC-08.A3.4.6

Author

Ms. Zahra Khan, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Mark Avnet, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Justin Colson, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Phillip Cunio, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Christopher Tracy, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Christopher Williams, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. James Keller, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Mr. Richard Jones, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Dr. Olivier de Weck, Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Year

2008

Abstract

NASA’S plan to return to the moon by 2020 raises the possibility of conducting science specifically enabled by unique characteristics of the lunar surface. One such science objective is the study of the “Epoch of Reionization” in the formation of the universe which has been given top priority by the 2001 National Research Council’s Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. The “Epoch of Reionization” is the period of transition of the universe from its early state of close-to-perfect uniformity to one of galaxies and inhomogeneous structures and is currently an area where data is much needed. This period is best studied in the radio waveband, especially at low frequencies, which are inaccessible to ground observatories. In addition, these low frequency waves offer a window on the universe that is unexplored at present. This increases the potential for new and unexpected discoveries. The lunar far side provides an ideal radio-quiet environment essential to observe this period in the universe’s history. Such an environment is unavailable on Earth or in near-Earth space. 

    This paper presents the design of a lunar telescope facility that provides the capability to observe the “Epoch of Reionization” by placing a radio array on the far side of the moon. This array is envisioned to consist of 3440 simple radio dipoles, arranged in 215 clusters over an area 62 kilometers in radius, which provides a resolution of 12 arcminutes to observe the Epoch of Reionization.  Highlights of the design include a light-weight, self-deploying structure, a novel high data-rate wireless communication system, autonomous deployment as well as the high modularity of system elements. 
 
    This project is designed to provide value to the exploration community in addition to the science community by leveraging planned lunar exploration architecture transportation elements including the Ares V launcher, unmanned surface transportation rovers as well as communication infrastructure. Additionally, the modularity of the design makes it highly robust from both a technical and a programmatic standpoint.

Abstract document

IAC-08.A3.4.6.pdf

Manuscript document

(absent)