Lunar Science Technical Committee Task List

The Lunar Science Technical Committee has two broad purposes, first to find out what we know about the Moon and make it accessible to the rest of the Artemis team, and second, to brainstorm about things we don't know but should find out when we go back to the Moon. It doesn't matter whether you have been studying planetary geology professionally for years or are just interested in learning about the Moon, there is lots for us to do here.

If you could select tasks that are of interest and help work on them, we'll all get to the Moon a lot faster. Don't worry if you only want to work on one part of a subtopic, there is no need to tackle a mammoth task all at once. Keep in mind that even very preliminary compilations and results will be very useful for other folks on the Artemis team.

So far, nearly everything needs a volunteer to take a crack at the research, brainstorming, or writing. The slightest amount of help does wonders in a group project, and any help at all gets us one step closer to the Moon.

Summarize existing knowledge about the Moon

Goals: Summarize existing knowledge of Luna, including identification of existing relevant publications and web sites on the Moon, lists of active researchers, and lists of funded research proposals. Organize this information to serve as a resource for other Artemis Project Technical Committees.

Products: Artemis Data Book Appendix M including:

• Summary of current knowledge of the Moon following the format of The Lunar Sourcebook
• Specific data on Angus Bay
• Annotated bibliography including hot links to web sites and hot links to ADB
• Potential contact list of active researchers in lunar science

• 1. Artemis Data Book: Appendix M
  • 1.1. Compile data from The Lunar Sourcebook
    Priority Sections:
    • Section 2.4 Overview of Lunar Geology
    • Chapter 7 (Regolith)
    • Chapter 9 (Physical Properties of Lunar Surface)
    • Chapter 3 (Lunar Environment)
    • Chapter 5 (Lunar Minerals)
    • Chapter 6 (Lunar Rocks)
    • Other Sections
  • 1.2. Summarize research results since 1990
    Identify active areas of research
    • Volcanic Processes
    • Petrology
    • Magnetic Field
    • Remote Sensing of Surface Geochemistry
    • Surface Properties
    • Resource Extraction
  • 1.3. Research the conditions at Angus Bay
    • Geology
    • Topography
    • Lunar Environment
    • Maps and images
• 2. Compile bibliography of literature reference and URLs
  • 2.1 Publications after 1989
    • Volcanic Processes
    • Petrology
    • Magnetic Field
    • Remote Sensing of Surface Geochemistry
    • Surface Properties
    • Resource Extraction
  • 2.2 Publications prior to 1990
    • Entry of references from the Lunar Sourcebook
    • NASA publications
    • General interest books on the Moon
  • 2.3 Funded Research Proposals since 1990
    • Examine NSF Geoscience Directorate records
    • Examine NASA records
    • Funding outside the USA
  • 2.4 Web sites
    • Websurf to compile and organize a Hotlist of Websites directly or indirectly related to lunar resources
  • 2.5 Maps and images
    • List NSSDC resources
    • Identify sources of lunar maps and imagery outside of NSSDC
  • 2.6 Maintain Bibliographic database, make accessible on web

Proposed Research Programs

Goals: Identify areas of research (related to the Moon rather than spaceflight in general), and thus science experiments, that are important to the immediate and long-term goals of the Artemis Project, and ultimately to identify researchers interested and capable of conducting those research projects

Products:

• List of research areas directly supporting Artemis mission goals
• List of additional research areas potentially able to bring income to the Artemis project
• List of potential contacts

• 1. Research directly supporting the long-term Artemis mission goals

  Identify areas of research and specific science experiments that are directly important to the goals of the Artemis Project, and ultimately to identify researchers interested and capable of conducting those research projects

  Example: Geochemical analysis of representative samples of regolith from the landing site will be necessary to evaluate techniques for extracting various metals and other elements

  • 1.1. Identify critical unresolved questions in the broad areas of:
    • Lunar environment (impacts, radiation, etc.)
    • Lunar geology and resources
    • Space physiology
  • 1.2. Identify general approaches to resolve those questions
    Examples:
    • Geology, resources, and hazards of the landing area
      Topographic mapping of landing area
      Geological mapping of landing area (remote sensing + ground control)
      Subsurface radar mapping from orbit - synthetic aperture radar (lava tubes)
      Seismic surveys (depth of regolith, base of regolith, lava tubes)
    • Space medicine and physiology
      Physiological responses and acclimatization to lunar gravity
      Exercise needs for long-term occupation of lunar gravity
    • Environmental impact
      Atmospheric contamination measurement
  • 1.3. Generate list of candidate experiments and workers to carry out those experiments
• 2. Research related to the immediate environment of the landing site
  • 2.1. Generate list of candidate experiments and workers to carry out those experiments
    Examples:
    • Regolith coring to assess temporal changes in solar output
    • Long wavelength subsurface radar mapping (crustal features)
• 3. Platform science and research related to lunar environment
  • 3.1. Generate list of candidate experiments and workers to carry out those experiments
    Examples:
    • Radio astronomy
    • Asteroid observation (Space Guard)
    • Atmosphere-free optical astronomy
    • Materials science

Field Queries Relevant to Lunar Science

Examples:

• Provide program planners with a sanity check on commercial materials available in the Moon, such as large aluminum oxide crystals
• Review processes proposed by industrial systems designers to make sure the geology and chemistry is correct
• Review concepts for visible-light observatories and radio astronomical observatories for their technical merits and accuracy

• 1 Maintain list of questions and who is researching them
  
• 2. Answer specific questions, and provide copies of answers both to the requesting party and the Artemis Data Book

Volunteer

We are always looking for additional volunteers to help with the tasks above. Most of these require only a desire to learn more about the Moon. If you are willing, give it a try, even if you don't have any experience in the area in which you would like to work. Please send mail with the task you want to help with to OSF-Administrator <osf-admin@asi.org>.