EGU Conference,Vienna, April15, 2008 An Update to MoonLITE Lunar Mission Rob Gowen, MSSL/UCL On behalf of the UK Penetrator Consortium + international

EGU Conference,Vienna, April15, 2008

An Update to MoonLITE An Update to MoonLITE Lunar MissionLunar Mission

Rob Gowen, MSSL/UCLRob Gowen, MSSL/UCLOn behalf of the UK Penetrator ConsortiumOn behalf of the UK Penetrator Consortium

+ international support


MoonLITE - OverviewMoonLITE - Overview

A UK initiated single mission to emplace 4 penetratorswidely spaced over the lunar surface to operate for 1 year 4π seismic network to enable investigation of deep lunar interior

mantle/core, and location/nature of strong enigmatic surface quakes possibly dangerous to siting of lunar bases.

Geochemistry, presence of water (ISRU) and volatiles at the poles, and possible organic/astrobiological material of cometary origin.

In-situ exploration of new terrains (far side, poles)

Precursor to exploration of other solar system bodies Impetus for UK plc High public interest


MoonLITE - TimelineMoonLITE - Timeline Jan 2006 – First meeting of UK penetrator consortium, now expanded

to 8 UK institutes and 3 industries

Dec 2006 - UK Research Council commissioned report of low cost lunar missions, and gave MoonLITE top priority.

Apr 2007 – First funding in place for penetrator trials

Feb 2008 - UK Civil Space Strategy: ‘Develop a sustainable programme, in partnership with other agencies, of low cost robotic explorers, initially focused on lunar exploration, to achieve early, high profile science goals’

Feb 2008 - BNSC/NASA Joint Working Group report describes MoonLITE as ‘inspirational’ and proposes a joint JPT and Phase A study

<mid 2008 – Joint Phase A study of MoonLITE expected to begin

~2013 - Launch


Mission DescriptionMission Description Polar OrbiterPolar Orbiter

Deliver penetrators to ejection orbit. Deliver penetrators to ejection orbit. Provide pre-ejection health status, Provide pre-ejection health status, Provide relay communications.Provide relay communications.

Orbiter PayloadOrbiter Payload:: 4 Descent Probes 4 Descent Probes Each containing 10-15 kg penetrator Each containing 10-15 kg penetrator + 20-25 kg de-orbit and attitude + 20-25 kg de-orbit and attitude control system.control system.

Landing sites:Landing sites: Globally spaced Globally spaced Far side, Polar region(s), One near Far side, Polar region(s), One near an Apollo landing site for calibration.an Apollo landing site for calibration.

DurationDuration:: >1 year for seismic network. >1 year for seismic network. Other science does not require so long Other science does not require so long (perhaps a few Lunar cycles for heat flow (perhaps a few Lunar cycles for heat flow and volatiles much less).and volatiles much less).

Penetrator DesignPenetrator Design:: Single Body for Single Body for simplicity and risk avoidance. Battery powered simplicity and risk avoidance. Battery powered with comprehensive power saving techniqueswith comprehensive power saving techniques..

3

2

1

4

Far side

Polar commsorbiter


Penetrators Delivery SystemPenetrators Delivery System

– Launch from spacecraft– Spin stabilise– Fire de-orbit motor– Re-orient– Separate penetrator from

delivery system– impact

SSTL


MoonLITE penetratorsMoonLITE penetrators

– Low mass projectiles projectiles ~10-13Kg ~10-13Kg

– High impact speed High impact speed ~ 250-300 m/s~ 250-300 m/s

– Very tough Very tough ~10-40kgee~10-40kgee

– Penetrate surface Penetrate surface ~ few metres~ few metres

– Perform science Perform science from below surfacefrom below surface SSTL


Penetrator Payload/Science Penetrator Payload/Science A nominal 2kg payload …A nominal 2kg payload …

SeismometersSeismometers - Probe interior structure and seismic activity - Probe interior structure and seismic activity

Chemical sensorsChemical sensors – Detect water, other volatiles – Detect water, other volatiles (organic/astrobiologic) and refactory chemicals. (organic/astrobiologic) and refactory chemicals.

AccelerometersAccelerometers – Probe surface/sub-surface material – Probe surface/sub-surface material (hardness/layering/homogeneity) (hardness/layering/homogeneity)

Thermal sensorsThermal sensors - Determine subsurface temperatures - Determine subsurface temperatures and probe deep interior processes via heat flow.and probe deep interior processes via heat flow.

+ other instruments – e.g mineralogy camera, permittivity, XRF,+ other instruments – e.g mineralogy camera, permittivity, XRF, radiation monitor, magnetometer radiation monitor, magnetometer

descent cameradescent camera (landing site location, surface morphology, PR) (landing site location, surface morphology, PR)

Micro-seismometer

Imperial College

Ion trap spectrometer

Open University


HeritageHeritage Lunar-A and DS2 space qualified.Lunar-A and DS2 space qualified.

– DS2 failed along with soft landerDS2 failed along with soft lander– Lunar-A penetrators not yet flownLunar-A penetrators not yet flown

Military have been successfully firing Military have been successfully firing instrumented projectiles for many instrumented projectiles for many years with comparable impact years with comparable impact velocities into concrete and steel.velocities into concrete and steel.

40,000gee qualified electronics exist 40,000gee qualified electronics exist (and re-used).(and re-used).

Payload heritage:Payload heritage:– Accelerometers, thermometers, Accelerometers, thermometers,

sample drill, geophones – fully space sample drill, geophones – fully space qualified.qualified.

– Seismometers (ExoMars) & chemical Seismometers (ExoMars) & chemical sensors (Rosetta) have space heritage sensors (Rosetta) have space heritage but require impact ruggedizing.but require impact ruggedizing.

– Mineralogy camera – new but simple.Mineralogy camera – new but simple.

When asked to describe the When asked to describe the condition of a probe that had condition of a probe that had

impacted 2m of concrete at 300 m/s impacted 2m of concrete at 300 m/s a UK expert described the device as a UK expert described the device as

‘a bit scratched’!‘a bit scratched’!


MoonLITE Technical StatusMoonLITE Technical Status

Full-scale trial – Scheduled May 19-23 2008

Fire 3 penetrators at 300m/s impact velocity

0.56m


Impact trial – 19Impact trial – 19--2323 May08May08










Impact Trial ObjectivesImpact Trial Objectives

Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, Demonstrate survivability of penetrator shell, accelerometers and power system.accelerometers and power system.

Determine internal acceleration environmentDetermine internal acceleration environmentat different positions within penetrator. at different positions within penetrator.

Extend and validate sophisticated modelling to new impact Extend and validate sophisticated modelling to new impact and penetrator materials.and penetrator materials.

Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments.Assess impact on penetrator subsystems and instruments. Assess alternative packing methods.Assess alternative packing methods. Assess interconnect philosophy.Assess interconnect philosophy.


Expected Next StepsExpected Next Steps

Mission Phase-A to start imminently, and complete Mission Phase-A to start imminently, and complete by end of year.by end of year.

Funds to be released for parallel instrument and Funds to be released for parallel instrument and subsystem technical development. subsystem technical development. (to achieve TRL level 5 within 2 years)(to achieve TRL level 5 within 2 years)

International peer review for science.International peer review for science. Major system studies (e.g. thermal, comms, descent

etc); impact modelling of both regolith and instruments, underpinning future small scale & full scale impact trials.


Trial Hardware - StatusTrial Hardware - Status

Inners Stack


Penetrator website:http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/planetary/missions/Micro_Penetrators.php

email: [email protected]

MoonLITE - A focused mission with clear objectives based on a strong technology background

ConclusionsConclusions


- End -- End -


MoonLITE - Rationale

Scientifically focussed Precursor to future

penetrator programmes High public interest Impetus to industry Affordable

Documents

EGU Conference,Vienna, April15, 2008 An Update to MoonLITE Lunar Mission Rob Gowen, MSSL/UCL On behalf of the UK Penetrator Consortium + international