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Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) on-board Chandrayaan-2 orbiter
Shanmugam, M.; Vadawale, S. V.; Acharya, Y. B. +6 more
The remote X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a powerful technique to investigate the elemental abundances in the atmosphere-less planetary bodies. The experiment involves measuring spectra of fluorescent X-rays from lunar surface using a low energy X-ray detector onboard an orbiting satellite. Since the flux of fluorescent X-ray lines critically …
Application of electrical propulsion for an active debris removal system: a system engineering approach
Covello, Fabio
One of the main challenge in the design of an active removal system for space debris is the high ΔV required both to approach space debris lying in different orbits and to de-orbit/re-orbit them. Indeed if the system does not target a number of objects during its lifetime the cost of the removal will be far too high to be considered as the basis o…
VLBI for better gravimetry in SELENE
Noda, H.; Tamura, Y.; Tsuruta, S. +17 more
The Japanese lunar explorer SELENE (SElenological and Engineering Explorer), to be launched in 2007, will for the first time utilize VLBI observations in lunar gravimetry investigations. This will particularly improve the accuracy to which the low degree gravitational harmonics and the gravity field near the limb can be measured, and when combined…
SMART-1 mission to the Moon: Status, first results and goals
Schmidt, W.; Grande, M.; Keller, H. U. +19 more
We present the first results from SMART-1's science and technology payload. SMART-1 is Europe's first lunar mission and will provide some significant advances to many issues currently active in lunar science, such as our understanding of lunar origin and evolution. The mission also contributes a step in developing an international program of lunar…
Science objectives and first results from the SMART-1/AMIE multicolour micro-camera
Langevin, Y.; Koschny, D.; Barucci, M. A. +16 more
The Advanced Moon micro-Imager Experiment (AMIE), on-board SMART-1, the first European mission to the Moon, is an imaging system with scientific, technical and public outreach objectives. The science objectives are to image the lunar South Pole, permanent shadow areas (ice deposit), eternal light (crater rims), ancient lunar non-mare volcanism, lo…
Determination of the microbial diversity of spacecraft assembly, testing and launch facilities: First results of the ESA project MiDiv
Rettberg, P.; Fritze, D.; Verbarg, S. +4 more
In the near future, an increasing number of in situ life detection and sample return missions to planets and other solar system bodies will be launched. The demand to control spacecraft-carried microbial contamination becomes obvious. COSPAR (Committee of Space Research) has defined guidelines and bioburden limits for different types of missions a…
Prelude to The Moon: Science, Technology, Utilization and Human Exploration
Ehrenfreund, P.; Foing, B. H.
A COSPAR 2-day symposium was dedicated to "The Moon: Science, Technology, Utilization and Human Exploration" at the COSPAR assembly in Paris, on 22-23 July 2004, sponsored by Planetary (B0.3), Life Sciences (F0.1) and Planetary Protection (PPP3) commissions, and ILEWG International Lunar Exploration Working Group. This was very timely to present t…