Transcript Spence_NESSC_Lunar_Initiatives

Welcome!
To The Restructured,
Reconfigured,
NASA Advisory Council!
Introductory slide courtesy of Harrison Schmitt, NAC Chairman
News Flash: RLEP is dead. New lunar exploration
program is called LPRP. Program has moved
from GSFC, then to Ames, and now to MSFC.
Program has been in flux since its inception – an evolving
implementation has resulted and with evolving
leadership at HQ and at field centers
Will lunar exploration live beyond October 2008? Cost of
RLEP-2 (now called LPRP-2 or maybe even
LPRP-1?) is higher than originally anticipated.
The whole program is being revisited in light
of latest costings.
Science Subcommittee Conference #06-2
Lunar Science Workshop Planning
Proposed Discussion Points
Overall Conference Objectives
(Historically Comparable to 1965 Woods Hole
Conference for Apollo)
• Consider Exploration Science, Lunar Science, and Lunar-Based
Science for a Return to the Moon
• Develop Science Objectives and Priorities as Contribution to
Return to the Moon Program Planning, Spacecraft Design,
Training, and Operations
• Consider Decadal Survey and other Strategic Inputs
(This and all remaining slides culled from content in H. Schmitt’s NAC presentation and
Heliophysics Subcommittee’s Lunar Science Workshop planning document.)
Organizational Issues for Subcommittee
Consideration (Particularly PSS)
• Agenda for workshop including identification of breakout groups
• Attendance including the roles for the LEAG, MEPAG and
potentially other AGs
• Invited papers and possible letters to solicit such papers
• Pre-workshop documents for attendees
• Role of Science Committee members
• Role of SSB
• Potential opportunities for international cooperation
Planetary Sciences: Possible Specific Exploration
and Lunar Science Considerations
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Testing of Giant Impact Hypothesis
Age(s) of Extremely Large Basin(s)
Testing of Impact “Cataclysm” Hypothesis
Calibration of Hadean (Earliest Pre-Cambrian)
Impact History of Earth and Inner Solar System
Global Delineation of Internal Structure of the Moon
Extent of Magma Ocean
Distribution of Mg-Suite Parent Igneous Bodies in the Crust
Original Distribution of Magma Ocean Residual Liquid (urKREEP)
Structure / Compositional Details of Upper Mantle
Lower Mantle Characteristics / Mapping of Upper and Lower (Core) Boundaries
Timing of Lunar Core Formation and Dynamo Circulation
Global Sampling / Remote Sensing Correlations of Major Geological and Geochemical
Units
Depositional History of Polar Cometary Volatiles
Determination of Resource Distribution & In Situ Concentrations, Particularly at the Poles
Testing of Mars Sampling Systems and Strategies
Lunar-Based Instrumentation Networks
Seismometers / Retro-reflectors / Magnetometers / Etc .
Subcommittee-Specific Possible Lunar-Based
Science Considerations
Astrophysics
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Potential Role for the Moon as Observatory Platform
Radio-astronomy
Constant view Polar observations
Information for Evaluation of Designs of Potential Lunar-based Observatories
Additional Characterization of Lunar Environment
Dust Migration / Precipitation / Rejection
Geotechnical Parameters for Construction
Seismic Stability
Protection of Critical Systems
Dust (Note Apollo Retro-reflector Stability)
Thermal Cycling
Vacuum
Radiation
Galactic and Solar Radiation History
Regolith and Ejecta Blanket Stratigraphy
Subcommittee-Specific Possible Lunar-Based
Science Considerations
Earth Science
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Lunar-Based Instrumentation
Multi-spectural, Multi-sensor Global O bservation
Astrobiological Refinement of Bio-signature (e.g. “Red edge”)
Magnetospheric Physics
Educational Initiatives
Heliophysics
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Lunar-Based Instrumentation
Sun
Solar Wind
Solar Wind-Magnetosphere interaction
Solar Wind-Lunar surface interaction
Regolith and Ejecta Blanket Stratigraphy
Solar Wind Composition and Energy over Time
Subcommittee-Specific Possible Lunar-Based
Science Considerations
Planetary Protection
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Testing of Systems and Strategies in an Extreme Environment
Sample Container Sealing
Container Dust Containment
Microbe & Organic Molecules Viability
Planetary Science (non-lunar)
• Very Low Pressure Clathrate Experimentation (Europa and Mars)
• Martian Field Exploration Systems and Approaches