Lunar Advanced Radar Orbiter for Subsurface Sounding (LAROSS): Lava Tube Exploration mission

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Conference: 26th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics MeetingAt: Napa, CA

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Publication Date

1-1-2016

Abstract

With the goal of expanding human presence beyond Earth, sub-surface empty lava tubes on other worlds form ideal candidates for creating a permanent habitation environment safe from cosmic radiation, microm-eteorite impacts and temperature extremes. In a step towards Mars exploration , the Moon offers the most favorable pathway for lava tube exploration. In-depth analysis of GRAIL gravity data has revealed several candidate empty lava tubes within the lunar maria. The goal of this investigation is a proposed subsurface radar sounding mission to explore the regions of interest and potentially confirm the presence and size of buried empty lava tubes under the lunar surface.

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Article

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