Lunar Science for Landed Missions Workshop Findings Report. Issue 1 (12th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jawin, Erica R.; Valencia, Sarah N.; Watkins, Ryan N.; Crowell, James M.; Neal, Clive R.; Schmidt, Gregory
• Is Part Of: Earth and space science. Volume 6:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 2
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2019-01-12
• Subjects: Moon -- landed missions -- exploration -- lunar science -- technology development; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.5
• DOI: 10.1029/2018EA000490
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2333-5084

Abstract

Abstract: The Lunar Science for Landed Missions workshop was convened at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center on 10–12 January, 2018. Interest in the workshop was broad, with 110 people participating in person and 70 people joining online. In addition, the workshop website (https://lunar‐landing.arc.nasa.gov ) includes video recordings of many of the presentations. This workshop defined a set of targets that near‐term landed missions could visit for scientific exploration. The scope of such missions was aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at commercial exploration companies with interests in pursuing ventures on the surface of the Moon. Contributed and invited talks were presented that detailed many high priority landing site options across the surface of the Moon that would meet scientific goals in a wide variety of areas, including impact cratering processes and dating, volatiles, volcanism, magnetism, geophysics, and astrophysics. Representatives from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency also presented about international plans for lunar exploration and science. This report summarizes the set of landing sites and/or investigations that were presented at the workshop that would address high priority science and exploration questions. In addition to landing site discussions, technology developments were also specified that were considered as enhancing to the types of investigations presented. It is evident that the Moon is rich in scientific exploration targets that will inform us on the origin and evolution of the Earth‐Moon system and the history of the inner Solar System, and also has enormous potential for enabling human exploration and for the development of a vibrant lunar commercial sector. Plain Language Summary: Where should we explore next on the Moon? This report summarizes potential future landing sites on the surface of the Moon, as presented at the Lunar Science for Landed Missions Workshop in January 2018 at NASA Ames. Key Points: This report outlines lunar sites that landed missions could visit for scientific exploration High‐priority lunar mission targets will aid future public‐private partnerships on the Moon A series of mission enhancing technology priorities are identified