Maximizing science return for time sensitive in-situ surface investigations at the lunar south pole with co-ordinated instrument operations through characterizations of landing sites of interest

This project’s research would aid planning of the Canadian Lunar Rover mission to the Moon’s south pole with the goal to maximize the science return of the mission. The lunar south pole is of interest to space exploration for finding water-ice that could be a resource for future exploration, but is a difficult environment to explore due to the extreme cold in darkness that can affect the rover and its instruments. Each lunar day/night can also last up to two Earth weeks, requiring 24-hour rover operations from Earth over the sunlit period. While a goal of the rover is surviving a lunar night, consistent operation plans determined pre-launch are needed to optimize the limited time, reduce idle decision-making time, and ensure consistency between working shifts. The proposed work would use newer datasets to map the landing sites and surrounding regions in greater detail than previously conducted and inform operational plans and science targets. The work would generate “recipes,” combinations/sequences of rover science instruments, to maximize the scientific return of observations based on the targets the rover expects to encounter: ground rubble; rocks; impact craters; permanently shadowed regions thought to trap water ice. The work would combine the findings of the mapping and instrument recipes to determine effective operations plans based on the planned rover traverses at the proposed landing sites for the rover mission. This work would greatly benefit the partner organization Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, the mission contractor, by aiding in the planning, return, and overall success of the mission.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gordon Osinski

Student:

Partner:

Canadensys Aerospace

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: