POSSIBILITIES OF STUDYING THE LUNAR SOIL AND COMPARING THE COMPOSITIONS OF LUNAR AND TERRESTRIAL CLINOPYROXENES

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 6-17
Author(s):  
Z. Golitsyna ◽  
◽  
A. Kirdyashkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Compositional Analysis ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Initial Composition ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Lunar Rocks ◽  
Celestial Bodies ◽  
Temperature And Pressure

The problem of compositional analysis of extraterrestrial crystalline rocks in the study of celestial bodies is considered. Since most of the bodies, terrestrial planets and their surrounding objects may contain clinopyroxenes, it is possible to study the temperature and pressure of rock formation in certain areas according to the state of these minerals, and the studies can be carried out identically to the geothermobarometry of Earth rocks. The paper presents the results of experimental studies of clinopyroxene compositions of the basic model system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 in the pressure range of 12...30 kbar and temperatures of 1325...1650 °C, which can be assumed as conditions for the formation of lunar rocks. The development of the necessary experimental data obtained in terrestrial conditions will help in the future to conduct remote studies of the Moon and other celestial bodies without the need to deliver soil to Earth. The revealed clinopyroxenes can be analyzed with existing geothermometers and geobarometers obtained for different ranges of P-T conditions. The possibility of creating a new geothermobarometer based on the distribution of minals or cations in clinopyroxene specifically for lunar rocks is not excluded. The main features and possible instrumentation of the apparatus intended for the study of the lunar surface are described. The study of different areas of the lunar surface will determine where the country rocks are located most closely to the surface. Analysis of silicate components of the lunar rocks will make it possible to get closer to the solution to the problem of initial composition of the lunar mantle

scholarly journals 2.2.4 Lunar Soil Movement Registered by the Apollo 17 Cosmic Dust Experiment

1976 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto E. Berg ◽  
Henry Wolf ◽  
John Rhee
Keyword(s):  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Cosmic Dust ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Normal Impact ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Impact Parameters

In December, 1973, a Lunar Ejecta and Meteorites (LEAM) experiment was placed in the Taurus-Littrow area of the moon by the Apollo 17 Astronauts. Objectives of the experiment were centered around measurements of impact parameters of cosmic dust on the lunar surface. During preliminary attempts to analyze the data it became evident that the events registered by the sensors could not be attributed to cosmic dust but could only be identified with the lunar surface and the local sun angle. The nature of these data coupled with post-flight studies of instrument characteristics, have led to a conclusion that the LEAM experiment is responding primarily to a flux of highly charged, slowly moving lunar surface fines. Undoubtedly concealed in these data is the normal impact activity from cosmic dust and probably lunar ejecta, as well. This paper is based on the recognition that the bulk of events registered by the LEAM experiment are not signatures of hypervelocity cosmic dust particles, as expected, but are induced signatures of electrostatically charged and transported lunar fines.

scholarly journals First measurements of the radiation dose on the lunar surface

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (39) ◽  
pp. eaaz1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenyi Zhang ◽  
Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber ◽  
Jia Yu ◽  
Chi Wang ◽  
Qiang Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dose Rate ◽  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Absorbed Dose ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Galactic Cosmic Rays ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Absorbed Dose Rate ◽  
Solar Particle Events ◽  
Neutral Particles ◽  
Particle Dose

Human exploration of the Moon is associated with substantial risks to astronauts from space radiation. On the surface of the Moon, this consists of the chronic exposure to galactic cosmic rays and sporadic solar particle events. The interaction of this radiation field with the lunar soil leads to a third component that consists of neutral particles, i.e., neutrons and gamma radiation. The Lunar Lander Neutrons and Dosimetry experiment aboard China’s Chang’E 4 lander has made the first ever measurements of the radiation exposure to both charged and neutral particles on the lunar surface. We measured an average total absorbed dose rate in silicon of 13.2 ± 1 μGy/hour and a neutral particle dose rate of 3.1 ± 0.5 μGy/hour.

Simulations of Lunar Dust interaction with exploration systems and instruments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Cipriani ◽  
François Piette
Keyword(s):  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Compositional Analysis ◽  
Thermal Control ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Lunar Dust ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
Predictive Algorithms ◽  
Performance Variations

<p>Lunar Dust is representing both an engineering challenge for future exploration missions due to systems potential contamination (due to regolith mobilization during e.g. traverse phases, landings, scooping, astronauts EVAs..) and a scientific target for e.g. mineralogical and compositional analysis of the Lunar surface. Therefore predicting not only interactions with systems but also payloads landed at the lunar surface is an important part of future missions design. Strong partnerships and synergies between agencies and space industries are now allowing the preparation of new missions with challenging timescales, for a return to the Moon in the next couple of years. In this context, the analysis of re-analysis of some of the Apollo era data and other landed assets is of high interest to perform the calibration of predictive algorithms and simulations tools of regolith transport and interactions with systems.</p> <p>The present work is organized in two parts: in the first part, we present a modelling study of two experiments included in the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP): the Lunar Ejecta and Meteoroids Experiment (LEAM), which experienced failures linked to thermal control and the Dust Detector Experiment (DDE) which could measure solar cells performance variations due to dust coverage.</p> <p>In the second part, we present simulation results for the contamination of the Imaging System accommodated on the PROSPECT experiment that will be embarked on the Luna 27 lander, due to land on the Moon in the next couple of years.</p> <p>We will discuss the quality of our predictions, the uncertainties inherent to the measurements, and the way forward in terms of better representation of lunar dust transport and interactions processes through models.</p>

Morphology of Apollo 11 and 12 Soil Samples and the Quest for Biogenic Forms

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 16-17
Author(s):  
Delbert E. Philpott ◽  
Charles Turnbill
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Past History ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
High Vacuum ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Carbonaceous Chondrites ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Similar Treatment

The Apollo 11 and 12 missions to the moon returned valuable samples for scientific study. The morphology of the loose sediment and breccia from Apollo 11 have been studied extensively in our laboratory using light microscopy, electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and the electron probe. The Apollo 12 sample is now undergoing similar treatment.Even though conditions on the moon, especially on the surface, are known to be extremely hostile to life as we know it, an extensive search was carried out for evidence of past life. Since numerous reports exist purporting evidence of life forms in carbonaceous chondrites coming to the Earth from outer space, such material would also be expected to be embedded in the lunar surface. Enders calculates about 2% carbonaceous chondrites on the lunar surface and Keil had measured nickel iron meteoritic ratios in his sample as about 1%. Thus influx to the surface and undetermined past history add interest to the search. However, an estimated turnover rate of 120 million years for a few inches of lunar soil does mean long exposure of this material to radiation, severe temperature changes, high vacuum, etc.

A Photographic Map of the Moon

1962 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 113-115
Author(s):  
D. W. G. Arthur ◽  
E. A. Whitaker
Keyword(s):  
Lunar Surface ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Map Projection

The cartography of the lunar surface can be split into two operations which can be carried on quite independently. The first, which is also the most laborious, is the interpretation of the lunar photographs into the symbolism of the map, with the addition of fine details from telescopic sketches. An example of this kind of work is contained in Johann Krieger'sMond Atlaswhich consists of photographic enlargements in which Krieger has sharpened up the detail to accord with his telescopic impressions. Krieger did not go on either to convert the photographic picture into the line symbolism of a map, or to place this picture on any definite map projection.

Thematic maps in the scientific studies of the moon

2019 ◽  
Vol 943 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
S.G. Pugacheva ◽  
E.A. Feoktistova ◽  
V.V. Shevchenko
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Thermal Inertia ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Lunar Soil ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Surface Cooling ◽  
Laser Altimeters ◽  
Space Infrastructure ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the results of astrophysical studies of the Moon’s reflected and intrinsic radiation. We studied the intensity of the Moon’s infrared radiation and, thus, carried out a detailed research of the brightness temperature of the Moon’s visible disc, estimated the thermal inertia of the coating substance by the rate of its surface cooling, and the degree of the lunar soil fragmentation. Polarimetric, colorimetric and spectrophotometric measurements of the reflected radiation intensity were carried out at different wavelengths. In the article, we present maps prepared based on our measurement results. We conducted theresearch of the unique South Pole – Aitken basin (SPA). The altitude profiles of the Apollo-11 and Zond-8 spacecrafts and the data of laser altimeters of the Apollo-16 and Apollo-15 spacecrafts were used as the main material. Basing upon this data we prepared a hypsometric map of SPA-basing global relief structure. A surface topography map of the Moon’s Southern Hemisphere is given in the article. The topography model of the SPA topography surface shows displacement centers of the altitude topographic rims from the central rim. Basing upon the detailed study of the basin’s topography as well as its “depth-diameter” ratio we suggest that the basin originated from the impact of a giant cometary body from the Orta Cloud. In our works, we consider the Moon as a part of the Earth’s space infrastructure. High growth rates of the Earth’s population, irrational nature management will cause deterioration of scarce natural resources in the near future. In our article, we present maps of the natural resources on the Moon pointing out the most promising regions of thorium, iron, and titanium. Probably in 20 or 40 years a critical mining level of gold, diamonds, zinc, platinum and other vital rocks and metals will be missing on the Earth.

Future lunar missions and investigation of dusty plasma processes on the Moon

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
SERGEY I. POPEL ◽  
LEV M. ZELENYI
Keyword(s):  
Dusty Plasma ◽  
Lunar Surface ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Maximum Height ◽  
Charged Dust ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Plasma System ◽  
Lunar Dust ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dusty Plasma System

AbstractFrom the Apollo era of exploration, it was discovered that sunlight was scattered at the terminators giving rise to “horizon glow” and “streamers” above the lunar surface. Subsequent investigations have shown that the sunlight was most likely scattered by electrostatically charged dust grains originating from the surface. A renaissance is being observed currently in investigations of the Moon. The Luna-Glob and Luna-Resource missions (the latter jointly with India) are being prepared in Russia. Some of these missions will include investigations of lunar dust. Here we discuss the future experimental investigations of lunar dust within the missions of Luna-Glob and Luna-Resource. We consider the dusty plasma system over the lunar surface and determine the maximum height of dust rise. We describe mechanisms of formation of the dusty plasma system over the Moon and its main properties, determine distributions of electrons and dust over the lunar surface, and show a possibility of rising dust particles over the surface of the illuminated part of the Moon in the entire range of lunar latitudes. Finally, we discuss the effect of condensation of micrometeoriod substance during the expansion of the impact plume and show that this effect is important from the viewpoint of explanation of dust particle rise to high altitudes in addition to the dusty plasma effects.

scholarly journals Back to the Moon: The scientific rationale for resuming lunar surface exploration

2012 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.A. Crawford ◽  
M. Anand ◽  
C.S. Cockell ◽  
H. Falcke ◽  
D.A. Green ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lunar Surface ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Surface Exploration ◽  
Scientific Rationale
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