Open Source Mission to the Moon

Paper number

IAC-10.A3.2A.9

Author

Mr. Dominik Quantius, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Hartmut Paesler, AMSAT Deutschland, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Andy Braukhane, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Peter Guelzow, AMSAT Deutschland, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Waldemar Bauer, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Achim Vollhardt, AMSAT Deutschland, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Daniel Schubert, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Oliver Romberg, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Year

2010

Abstract

The German non-profit amateur satellite organisation AMSAT-Deutschland successfully designed, built and launched four HEO satellites in the last three decades. Now they are going to build a satellite to leave the Earth orbit based on their flight-proven P3-D satellite design. Due to energetic constraints the most suitable launch date for the planned P5-A satellite to Mars will be in 2018. To efficiently use the relatively long time gap until launch a possible prior Moon mission came into mind. In co-operation with the DLR-Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, Germany, two studies on systems level for a first P5 satellite towards Moon and a following one towards Mars have been performed. By using the DLR’s Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF) two consistent satellite concepts were designed including mission analysis, configuration, propulsion, subsystem dimensioning, payload selection, budgeting and cost.

The present paper gives an insight in the accomplished design process and the results of the performed study towards Moon. The developed Moon orbiter is designed to carry the following four main instruments besides flexible communication abilities:

\begin{itemize}\item slewable HDTV camera combined with a high gain antenna that allows receiving lunar television using a commercially available satellite TV dish on Earth

\item sensor imaging infrared spectrometer for mineralogy of lunar silicates and lunar surface temperature measurements

\item camera for detection and monitoring of impact flashes in visible light (VIS) on lunar night side caused by meteoroid impact events

\item camera technology test for interplanetary navigation and planetary approach navigation.\end{itemize}

This study presents a non-industrial satellite concept that could be launched as piggyback load on Ariane 5 into GTO. It promises a low cost mission towards Moon with spectacular values from a public as well as scientific point of view. Due to the fact, that the satellite would be built by a private organisation, the mission is designed to be open to everyone who wants to join the project – collaborative, financially, or just receiving or using the produced data.

Abstract document

IAC-10.A3.2A.9.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-10.A3.2A.9.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.