Title

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

Alternative Title

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.

Type

Article

Publisher

Reserch Gate

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