MoonLITE - A UK-led lunar penetrator mission
- Paper number
IAC-09.A3.2A.9
- Author
Prof. Alan Smith, MSSL/UCL, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Ms. Elizabeth Williams, NASA, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Christopher Castelli, Science and Technology Facilities Council of the UK, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Jason Crusan, NASA Headquarters, United States
- Year
2009
- Abstract
In December 2009 the UK government announced that a Phase A study would be undertaken of the proposed MoonLITE mission. This study will be supported by NASA. MoonLITE is envisaged as to comprise a lunar polar orbiter relay communications satellite that will deploy four penetrator systems onto the lunar surface. The locations would be globally spaced providing a seismic network and accessing one or more permanently shaded craters. Each penetrator would contain a broad scientific payload including seismometers, heat flow, geochemistry and geophysics instruments. The penetrators would operate for one year. The author, as mission PI for the study (which will be completed at the end of 2009), will provide a 'status report' of the study (which will be nearing completion) at the time of the conference. Early result of key mission architecture trades will be presented.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)