ESA Science & Technology - The Moon and SMART-1 at EGS Millennium Assembly

Forty papers were presented orally, and there was a very lively poster session. Science papers by Dunkin, Heather, Hiesinger, Koehler, Chevrel and collaborators covered last results from the analysis of integrated datasets from the Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions, in such fields of research as the nature and creation of the Moon's basaltic maria, and highlands, with emergence of "New views of the Moon". In this context, Apollo sample analysis provides local ground truth and seismic investigations allow a more precise measurement of the thickness of the lunar crust. The eventual presence of ice or water-ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the lunar South and North poles was evoked, notably by Stuart Nozette, Project Manager for the Clementine orbiter mission (1994) which provided initial radar data suggesting this possibility.

Vladimir Zharkov of Moscow Institute of Earth Physics presented his theory on how the study of the lunar orbit provides important information about the history of the Moon and the formation of our planet's continents. Evidence for and against a possible "dynamo effect" of the Moon's core in its past (which could shed light on lunar volcanism and the origin of the magnetism of certain lunar rocks) was also discussed by Pierre Rochette of the University of Aix-Marseille.

Several soil spectroscopy calibration facilities have been developed in Europe and in the world for the interpretation of remote sensing measurements (from X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infarred and radio). Patrick Pinet presented the Toulouse's Wide Field Spectral Imaging Facility. This optical testbench, detector and light-source system will use soil and mineral samples to evaluate data obtained with the increasingly precise science cameras now equipping space missions. Fifteen papers were presented in relation to the preparation of the instruments and the science of SMART-1. The SMART-1 project manager Giuseppe Racca, gave a status report on the spacecraft development. The SMART-1 payload principal investigators presented to the community, the goals and status of development of the AMIE, SIR, D-CIXS, SPEDE/EPDP instruments. Upcoming lunar missions were described in great detail. SMART-1 will probably be the first to leave for the Moon, as from the end of 2002. Japan should follow in early 2003 with Lunar-A and its ambitious scheme to fire penetrators, incorporating sensors, into the Moon surface. Project Manager Hitoshi Mizutani (ISAS) explained that "the objective is to measure 'moonquakes', providing additional seismic constraints on the lunar core and deep internal structure". As the Lunar-A orbiter will not be able to see the actual penetrator impacts, SMART-1 project scientist Bernard Foing suggested that the AMIE camera on ESA's spacecraft could try to observe and locate them. The following Japanese mission of ISAS/NASDA, Selene, is now scheduled for a 2004 launch according to its Project Scientist Susumu Sasaki (ISAS). The mission includes an orbiter and two sub-satellites carrying in all 10 different experiments, including a high-power radar that will be able to sound the lunar crust to a depth of 5km. More than 200 scientists are working on Selene and Bernard Foing congratulated his Japanese colleagues: "The SMART-1 spacecraft may have a "CAN" bus as used on the Mercedes-S, but Selene is surely the Rolls Royce of lunar exploration".

The open session confirmed the general consensus that our knowledge of the Moon will inevitably require in-situ robotic exploration. If only to confirm the existence of ice as Stuart Nozette explained. "Before working in the space field, I used to drill oil wells. On the basis of the Clementine shadow and radar data, and Lunar Prospector neutron data, I would say: 'Right, let's go-ahead and drill some test wells'. SMART-1's instruments will certainly help map the shadows, but we still need something active to actually look in and see whether the patch on the wall of the Shackleton crater actually is ice. Ultimately, nobody is going to believe you until you actually dig some out!"

New concepts for the wheels of lunar micro-rovers and a remotely operated chemical and mineralogical analyser were presented during the lunar session. Jean Heidmann (Observatoire de Paris) restated his proposal to establish a radio-frequency observatory in a crater on the farside of the Moon, given the increasing interfence from ground and Earth satellite systems. Participants also learnt of the latest proposals on how oxygen, vital for eventual human exploration, can be extracted from lunar materials, notably from lunar glass.

At the end of the day, one could not but share the conviction that lunar scientific and technical exploration is fully justified and must be pursued. Earth's natural satellite is so close to us but in itself still holds so many mysteries . "Furthermore, says ILEWG chairman Bernard Foing, "the Moon and lunar missions are increasingly usefull as testbeds for other planetary destinations (such as Mars and Mercury). The EGS 2000 lunar session, with its wide variety of reaffirmed the importance of European and international cooperation. The next steps for action and coordination will be discussed during the 4th International Conference on Exploration and Utilisation of the Moon (ICEUM4) to be held at ESTEC, Noordwijk, NL on 10-15 July 2000".

Contact:
B.H. Foing, SMART-1 Project scientist, chair ILEWG
Bfoingestec.esa.nl
Phone/fax: (31) 71 565 5647/ (31) 71 565 4697