Thermal environment of the lunar poles
Final Report Abstract
In the course of this study software was developed to derive surface and sub-surface temperatures for near polar regions. First a digital representation of the lunar terrain was created using laser altimeter data recorded from a lunar orbiting spacecraft. The digital terrain model was then realistically illuminated according to the orbits of the Moon and the Sun. This way illumination maps can be created for any point in time in the past and the future. Based on such illumination maps mathematical models can be applied to infer temperature of the lunar soil. The main work of this study was to implement said model and all the parameters entering the model. Finally temperature maps for several locations near the lunar poles were derived. Temperature maps previously measured from orbit could now be compared to our results which revealed a high correlation. With the help of our temperature maps we can simulate the environment a future rover would encounter when landing near the lunar poles. The illumination maps will help derive expected power generation by solar panels and the temperature maps will help design the rover to withstand expected temperature ranges. Further these temperature maps reveal potential areas at which water-ice can be found, either at the surface or at shallow subsurface. These areas are prime exploration targets for future missions. https://sciencetrends.com/the-sunniest-spots-on-the-moon-are-not-whereyoud-expect-them/
Publications
- (2017). Numerical simulation of illumination and thermal conditions at the lunar poles using LOLA DTMs. European Planetary Science Congress, 11:EPSC2017–693
Gläser, P., Gläser, D., Oberst, J., Neumann, G. A., Mazarico, E., and Siegler, M. A.
- (2018). A New Realization of the Global Lunar Reference Frame Based on Co-Registered Lola Tracks. ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 42.3:397–401
Gläser, P., Haase, I., and Oberst, J.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-3-397-2018) - (2018). Illumination conditions at the lunar poles: Implications for future exploration. Planetary and Space Science, 162:170–178
Gläser, P., Oberst, J., Neumann, G. A., Mazarico, E., Speyerer, E. J., and Robinson, M. S.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2017.07.006) - (2019). Modeling near-surface temperatures of airless bodies with application to the Moon. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 627:A129
Gläser, P. and Gläser, D.
(See online at https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935514) - (2019). Thermal modeling of airless bodies – lunar polar case. European Planetary Science Congress, Vol. 13, EPSC-DPS2019-1573-1
Gläser, P. and Gläser, D.
