Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG): Roadmap for Lunar Prospecting

Clive R. Neal

Emritus LEAG Chair

Dept. Civil & Env. Eng. & Earth Sciences

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA

neal.1@nd.edu

@Neal148409276

www.nd.edu/~cneal

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap/

Learn from history - Apollo not sustainable.

Establishing a sustained lunar exploration program requires international collaboration, ISRU, and commercial sector involvement.

Lunar Exploration Roadmap

LEAG is at the center of integrating such efforts – it serves as a community-based, interdisciplinary forum for future science and exploration.

LEAG Lunar Exploration Roadmap

• Community effort.
• Living document.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap

Three Themes:

- Science (Sci)

- Feed Forward (FF)

- Sustainability (Sust)

Sustainability is the key:

• Don’t abandon assets – leverage them;
• Commercial “on ramps” are defined;
• International cooperation is critical.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap/

LEAG Lunar Exploration Roadmap

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap

Sustainability Theme:

Sustained lunar activities are only possible when they are sustainable through ongoing return of value.

Self-sustained settlement is most defensible when strongly linked to science and feeding forward to other destinations in the Solar System.

The role of commercial activity as an indispensible aspect of sustainability.

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag/roadmap/

LEAG Lunar Exploration Roadmap

Robotic Precursor Missions

Resource Prospecting and Verification.

• Ground truth is required to validate and characterize the polar and other resources:
• Determine the form;
• Measure the amount and location;
• Characterize the local environment.

See www.lpi.usra.edu/leag for more details

Need to answer the following:

• Can regolith be mined on the Moon?
• Can oxygen, water, and propellant be produced from lunar regolith on the lunar surface?
• How long can the products be stored?

Implementing the LER:�Robotic Precursor Missions

Phase I: Lunar Resource Prospecting.

- Defining the composition, form, and extent of the resource:

- Characterizing the environment in which the resources are found;

- Defining the accessibility/extractability of the resources;

- Quantifying the geotechnical properties �of the lunar regolith in the areas where �resources are found;

- Being able to traverse several km and �sample and determine lateral and �vertical distribution on meter scales.

- Identifying resource-rich sites for �targeting future missions.

Phase II: Lunar Resource Mining.

- Feedstock acquisition and handling;

- Resource extraction, refinement, transport, and storage;

- Usability of resources (e.g., fuel cell, small engine test, propellant depot test);

- Regolith handling and size sorting technologies (only for mineral-based resources);

- Operable life to give information �on the longevity of systems and �materials in the lunar environment;

- Dust mitigation strategies.

Implementing the LER:�Robotic Precursor Missions

Phase III: Lunar Resource Production.

Based upon the results of Phase II a larger-scale (i.e., more appropriate scale) continuous processing capability would be deployed to the most appropriate site.

Greater quantities of resources will be produced and be used to undertake more extensive �demonstrations such as life support, �mobility technologies, and fuel for a �robotic sample return.

An automated full-scale production �capability would be established prior �to the first extended human stay on �the lunar surface.

Implementing the LER:�Robotic Precursor Missions

2017 LEAG-ISECG V-SAT-2

• The LEAG SAT will build upon the results of the LEAG Volatile Specific Action Team report of 2014 and the subsequent European response to the study and reference the lunar NASA and ISECG Strategic Knowledge Gaps as guidance in their review.
• The LEAG SAT should constrain its review and input to the mission parameters defined by ISECG space agencies.
• While individual space agencies and lunar project managers ultimately will necessarily focus mission plans and resources to meet space agency objectives, this review will provide suggestions and insight that may assist these leaders in the space community with strategic, tactical, and coordinated lunar mission planning.

Possibly 7 landed missions to the lunar south pole between now and 2025: China (3), Russia (2), Japan (1), USA (1).

2017 LEAG-ISECG V-SAT-2

Finding #5 – Mission Distribution: The set of missions specified for consideration by the V-SAT-2 should visit multiple sites.

Finding #7 – Coordinated Resource Prospecting: Prospecting for lunar polar volatiles should be executed as a coordinated two-phase approach: (1) a preliminary characterization followed by (2) a comprehensive characterization.

Finding #8 – Phase 2 Missions: Missions that involve impactors and penetrators should be considered for Phase 2 to explore large (several km scale) PSRs.

Finding #9 – Essential Measurements to evaluate a site for ISRU development potential.

Finding #10 - Complementary Measurements (measurements that support the understanding of polar volatiles).

Findings #12-14 – Data Sharing

Findings #16-18 – Mutlilateral Investigation Teams

Resources are Key!

Lunar Volatile Resources:

• Water, oxygen, rocket fuel!
• Stimulate commercial activity.
• Can enable permanent human presence on the Moon.
• Can enable sustainable human Mars exploration.

Are these Resources actually Reserves??

• Need to go prospecting on the lunar surface.
• BUT NASA canceled the only lunar prospecting mission on 23 April 2018.

2018 - Issues

23 April: Resource Prospector cancelled by HEOMD.

23 April: Jim Bridenstine sworn in as the 13^th NASA Administrator.

26 April: LEAG letter sent to NASA – and leaked!

Instruments safe but the RP mission concept is possibly lost!

Congressional briefing on RP requested.

Will this be another missed opportunity?

The Message

Human Solar System Exploration (& Science) requires international and commercial partnerships (see the LER!)

The Moon is not the end-game!

It is an enabling asset as the gateway for humans to explore the Solar System!

15

SUSTAINABILITY ROADMAP

Robotic and Short Human Sorties

ASSESSMENT

- First step of “Preparation for Commerce”. Examples:

• Map/characterize surface physical resources (volatiles, etc.);
• Determine communications / navigation network options;
• Commercial providers could sell assessment services but government (traditional contracting) is most likely customer purchasing them.

DEMONSTRATION

• Second step of “Preparation for Commerce”: show operationally relevant processes on missions. Examples:
• Demonstrate resource extraction and use Demonstrate aspects of communications / navigation network;
• Commercial providers could sell demonstration services but government (traditional contracting) is most likely customer purchasing them.

EARLY (Precursors)

Outpost & Robotic Missions

PILOT

- First step of “Transition to Commerce”: - Examples:

• Pilot resource extraction and use facility(ies);
• Pilot Communications / navigation networking;
• Commercial providers or government could provide pilot services but government (traditional contracting) is most likely customer purchasing them, as anchor tenant with advance purchase;
• commitment to encourage movement from pilot to full-scale operations;
• Metrics introduced to measure reliability, quality, and other parameters relevant to later full-scale operations.

MARKET

- Second step of “Transition to Commerce”: Examples:

• Resource extraction and use Communications / navigation network;
• Market involving multiple government and non-government customers purchasing in traditional commercial transactions (i.e., not contracting where government is only customer).

Robotic & Medium Human Sorties