Characterization of High-priority Landing Sites for Robotic Exploration Missions in the Apollo Basin, Moon

The South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin is the oldest and largest visible impact structure on the Moon, making it a high priority science site for exploration missions. The 492 km diameter Apollo peak-ring basin is one of the youngest and largest basins within the SPA basin. We selected three regions of i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Planetary Science Journal
Main Authors: Csilla Orgel, Ines Torres, Sebastien Besse, Carolyn H. van der Bogert, Rickbir Bahia, René Prissang, Mikhail A. Ivanov, Harald Hiesinger, Gregory Michael, Jan Hendrik Pasckert, Mayssa El Yazidi, Balazs Bradak, Sebastian H. G. Walter
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2024
Subjects:
The Moon
Lunar science
Astronomy
QB1-991
Aitken
Apollo Peak
South Pole
The Landing
South pole
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad1108
https://doaj.org/article/4536f1189ee44c31a5e72296735a547e
Description
Summary:The South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin is the oldest and largest visible impact structure on the Moon, making it a high priority science site for exploration missions. The 492 km diameter Apollo peak-ring basin is one of the youngest and largest basins within the SPA basin. We selected three regions of interest (ROIs) in the Apollo basin for which the landing and operational hazards are minimized and evaluated their science and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) potential. We examined topography, slope, crater density, rock abundance, geologic mapping, mineralogy, and inferred subsurface stratigraphy within each ROI. The results show that the terrain is safe for landing without precision landing (within a few hundred meters). The mare materials have high ISRU potential with relatively high FeO (∼16–20 wt%) and TiO _2 (∼3–10 wt%) contents. Two robotic exploration mission architectures were examined for their scientific potential: (1) lander and rover with a dedicated payload suite and (2) the same architecture with sample return capability. In situ observations can address six of seven National Research Council concepts (1–3, 5–7) and Campaigns 1 and 5 of the European Space Agency’s Strategy for Science at the Moon.

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