Lunar Mineralogy Kaylan Meinecke ASU NASA Space Grant Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Office Mentor: Samuel Lawrence 18 April 2009

Lunar History Apollo missions ( ) Apollo missions ( ) Sample collection Sample collection Incomplete information about the character and distribution of lunar materials Incomplete information about the character and distribution of lunar materials Limited varieties of terrain Limited varieties of terrain LRO LRO Prepare for human exploration Prepare for human exploration Assessment of lunar crustal rock types and useable resources Assessment of lunar crustal rock types and useable resources Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 mission, 1969.

Background Hapke’s Radiative Transfer Theory Hapke’s Radiative Transfer Theory VIS/NIR VIS/NIR Spectral Mixing Model Spectral Mixing Model Mineralogy Mineralogy Chemistry Chemistry Particle size Particle size Degree of space weathering Degree of space weathering

Programming Grid Search Algorithm Grid Search Algorithm Geologically plausible reflectance spectra Geologically plausible reflectance spectra Range: 0.8 – 2.3 microns Range: 0.8 – 2.3 microns Comparisons constrained by varying degrees of space weathering Comparisons constrained by varying degrees of space weathering

Investigation Degrees of Space Weathering Degrees of Space Weathering Minimum: 0.1 ppt Minimum: 0.1 ppt Maximum: 25 ppt Maximum: 25 ppt Results Results Minimum Minimum Each spectrum matched itself Each spectrum matched itself Maximum Maximum Matches ranged from few to many Matches ranged from few to many Dependent on mineral composition distribution derived from grid search algorithm Dependent on mineral composition distribution derived from grid search algorithm

Investigation Analysis Analysis Minimum space weathering Minimum space weathering Cause of matches Cause of matches Degree of space weathering too constrained for significant/visible spectral differences Degree of space weathering too constrained for significant/visible spectral differences Maximum space weathering Maximum space weathering Cause of matches Cause of matches

Implications Only compositions with lots of space weathering are affected Only compositions with lots of space weathering are affected Do these hyper-mature compositions exist? Do these hyper-mature compositions exist? Tested grid search algorithm can serve as a base for larger datasets from NASA missions Tested grid search algorithm can serve as a base for larger datasets from NASA missions Chandrayaan

Future Work Adjusting data to work on multispectral data Adjusting data to work on multispectral data Using other spectral interpretation techniques in conjunction with grid search algorithm Using other spectral interpretation techniques in conjunction with grid search algorithm Analysis of remote sensing data from lunar and asteroid surfaces to derive mineral composition maps Analysis of remote sensing data from lunar and asteroid surfaces to derive mineral composition maps

Sources Lawrence, Samuel J., and Lucey, Paul G. Radiative Transfer Mixing Models of Meteoritic Assembleges. Lawrence, Samuel J., and Lucey, Paul G. Radiative Transfer Mixing Models of Meteoritic Assembleges. NASA Langley Research Center's Contributions to the Apollo Program NASA Langley Research Center's Contributions to the Apollo Program. December ISRO Gears Up to Launch Country's First Unmanned Mission to Moon _s_first_unmanned_mission_to_moon.htm