Exploration of the Moon1 Lunar Exploration “Historical perspective…of the Future” Ted Spitzmiller

Exploration of the Moon2 Overview Current initiative for NASA includes a return to the Moon This presentation will include; –Historical exploration –Motivation past, present, future –Planning considerations –Possible impediments

Exploration of the Moon3 NASA’s Historical Mandate National Academy of Sciences ‘Space Science Board’ 1965 recommended three primary goals for a national planetary exploration program: –origin and evolution of the solar system, –origin and evolution of life, and –dynamic processes that shape the terrestrial environment.

Exploration of the Moon4 “Renewed Spirit of Discovery” — 2004 A new vision for Nation's space exploration program. Re-commitment to long-term human and robotic programs –Explore solar system –Return human presence to the Moon (2020) –Enable future exploration of Mars (2037) and –other destinations. Gives NASA a “new focus” and “clear objectives” Current administration believes it will be –Affordable –Sustainable –Prudent Current “new” Constellation program –A step backward in technology (ARES/Orion)?

Exploration of the Moon5 But Enthusiasm is Lacking Public attitude “been there done that” prevails about the Moon 30 year time span to Mars Political divisiveness What’s different today than 50 years ago? No “buy-in” for today’s program Why?

Exploration of the Moon6 Soviets launched Sputnik I Start of the Space Race The world changed— forever October 1957

Exploration of the Moon7 Sputnik II — Raised Expectations

Exploration of the Moon8 Public’s perspective of space travel change virtually overnight Conquest of Space a military mandate Experts declared the Moon as a critical new ‘High ground” A political imperative to “compete” Moon first “unexplored world” mankind was capable of reaching

Exploration of the Moon9 America Rushed to “Catch Up” Soviet early use of its R-7 ICBM US launch vehicles not capable of lunar missions

Exploration of the Moon10 Interim Measures US ICBM not ready to support space exploration Under ARPA –Air Force Thor Able –Army Juno II Spacecraft called “Pioneer”

Exploration of the Moon11 Initial Objective: Explore Lunar Environment Micrometeorites Cosmic rays Magnetic field Radiation belts Lunar surface — mile deep dust? Unseen far side… a mystery

Exploration of the Moon12 Thor Able — Pioneer I and II 78 Pounds

Exploration of the Moon13 Juno II — Pioneer III and IV 13.5 Pounds

Exploration of the Moon14 First US Attempts in 1958 Failed to reach escape velocity Kept US from being “first” to the Moon Pioneers 1 and 2 reached only 1/3 of the way Discovered second van Allen radiation belt

Exploration of the Moon15 Soviet Luna 1 — January 1959 Amazing 796 pounds! Scintillation-counter Geiger-counter Magnetometer Micrometeorite detector Sodium gas experiment Missed Moon by 3,400 miles

Exploration of the Moon16 Luna II — September 1959 Lunar Impact! But no Imaging –Surface still unknown Soviet pennants – Claim to the Moon?

Exploration of the Moon17 Luna 3 — Imaged the Far Side

Exploration of the Moon18 First Year Accomplishments Many “firsts” held public interest and excitement high –First “escape” from Earth –First Lunar impact –First photos of far side Pioneer and Luna tentatively determined… –No Magnetic field –Micrometeorites not widespread –No radiation belts –Possible solar radiation problem Determined effort for further lunar exploration –Kennedy goal “before this decade is out” Ominous predictions of Soviet domination kept $$$ flowing.

Exploration of the Moon19 Ranger Explore the surface –“Rough” landers –Imaging to impact 6 consecutive failures –No rough lander success 3 Imaging successes –PIA03495PIA03495

Exploration of the Moon20 Last Image of Ranger 9 Taken from 600’.25 seconds to impact Features as small as one foot times better detail than any previous telescopic image from earth Determined crater dispersion allowed a lunar landing

Exploration of the Moon21 Luna 4-9 “Rough” Landers ,490 pounds 218 pounds

Exploration of the Moon22 First Image from Lunar Surface Returned TV panoramas and radiation data Lunar surface “stable” Four day life

Exploration of the Moon23 Surveyor 1-7 Soft Landers

Exploration of the Moon24 Operated for weeks Transmitted 87,000 images

Exploration of the Moon25 Incredible Surface Detail Performed 6 separate chemical analysis of surface material

Exploration of the Moon26 Ability to “dig” around

Exploration of the Moon27 US Lunar Orbiters Mapped entire lunar surface

Exploration of the Moon28 Lunar Orbiter 2 “Photo of the Century”

Exploration of the Moon29 First Ten years of Robotic Lunar Exploration USA 30 missions –1 of first 15 successful – 14 of last 15 successful USSR 29 mission –3 of first 15 Successful –5 of last 14 Successful The technology was finally coming together

Exploration of the Moon30

Exploration of the Moon31 Manned Circumlunar Flight —1968 Soviet Zond American Apollo 8

Exploration of the Moon32 Luna Sample & Return — The Home Stretch

Exploration of the Moon33 Apollo — Samples returned –Soviet Luna 16 and 20… 5 ounces –Apollo 11-17… 838 pounds

Exploration of the Moon34 Soviet Lunokhod Rover

Exploration of the Moon35

Exploration of the Moon Hiten (Japan) 1990 Clementine (USA) 1994 Lunar Prospector (USA) 1998 Smart 1 (ESA) 2003 Kaguya (Japan) 2007 Chang’e 1 (China) 2007 Has the Moon Lost its Glow? 68 Missions21 Missions0 Missions3 Missions

Exploration of the Moon37 Exploration past 35 years Hiten (Japan) January 24, 1990 –Earth orbiter preformed ten lunar fly-bys –Sub-satellite Hagoromo entered lunar orbit—failed –First use of low-energy (weak stability boundary) transfer orbit Clementine (USA) Jan 25, 94 Lunar orbit –Mapped lunar surface –Malfunction prevented planned fly-by of asteroid Geographos. Lunar Prospector (USA) Jan 6, 98 Lunar orbiter. –Mapped minerals, magnetic & gravitational fields –Discovered evidence of possible water ice at lunar poles SMART-1 (ESA) Sep 27, 03 Lunar Orbiter –First European mission –Two phase mission; test new technologies, study Moon. Kaguya (Japan) Sep 24, 07 Lunar orbiter with two sub-satellites –Entered lunar orbit 3 Oct 3, 07 –Scientific data on lunar origins & evolution, develop technology for future lunar exploration Chang'e 1 (China) Oct 24, 07 –First Chinese mission; lunar orbiter. –3D images of lunar surface, map element distribution, evaluate soil depth

Exploration of the Moon38 Motivation in the New Millennium Can America stay the course without: Inexpensive access to Low Earth Orbit (RLV) Foreign competition Periodic infusion of excitement While enduring: Multiple Administrations Variable / questionable funding priorities Possible tragedies

Exploration of the Moon39 Economic Justification? Not without “inexpensive” access to Low Earth Orbit (RLV) Current motivation for creating a lunar “colony”: –Availability of H 3 — can’t use what we’ve got –Water sources — unproven –Mining the Moon — not credible –Survival of the species — premature “ROI” will drive lunar frontier

Exploration of the Moon40 Summary Manned vs Robotics –After 50 years the question remains: –“Is the cost of human presence justified” Without a technological breakthrough ARES the America’s path to space for 30 years Can lunar exploration proceed without RLV?

Exploration of the Moon41 Inexpensive Access

Exploration of the Moon42 Airliner Frequency and Reliability

Exploration of the Moon43 Questions Available from Apogee Books…