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DN-005 L: Optical images from the lunar surface at the lunar south pole

Overlapping 360° panoramas taken from the surface at potential Artemis landing regions, with accurate positions, to check real lighting against what orbital models predict. CLPS landers have taken surface images, but none yet at a potential Artemis site. The stake is solar power: wrong lighting assumptions "potentially lead to insufficient power". It is named in the Moon Base Users Guide (near-term), under two challenges, "Securing sites" and "Solar power" (Data gaps spreadsheet, DN-005 L; Users Guide, pp. 12–13).

Quotations below are from row DN-005 L of the data gaps spreadsheet unless marked otherwise. ADD Rev C's Appendix E prints the same record as a table, and it matches the row field for field (ADD Rev C, p. 269). The ADD's E.1 list prints the title without one word, "Optical images from lunar surface at the lunar south pole" (p. 263, PDF checked); its table on p. 269 has "from the lunar surface", as the sheet does.

Description

"Take a series of panoramic images from the surface of the lunar south pole at potential Artemis landing regions to determine real lighting conditions. Images should be coupled with accurate positional data in order to compare with expected illumination conditions based on orbital data and enable in situ surface feature information for traverse planning, hazard identification and illumination impact predictions."

Need driver and data type

  • Need driver: Lunar Exploration Surface Site Characterization
  • Data type: Surface-to-Surface Imagery

Target measurement parameters

"Take a number of images sufficient to ascertain surface lighting conditions/levels at different locations and times at the lunar south pole. High-resolution images should cover 360 degrees and overlap to enable 3D object information to be obtained. Need at all relevant locations, possibly many for mobility assets."

Current state of data

"Multiple CLPS providers have taken images from the surface. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has collected, to date, over 70000 meter-scale images of the South Pole of Earth's Moon that can be used to validate illumination models at the meter scale for specific illumination conditions. Any previously modeled panoramic or framing camera which can be slewed on the surface can achieve these objectives at specific sites on the lunar surface. However, panoramic images from the surface have not been acquired at a potential Artemis mission location."

Impact if data is unavailable

"Increased uncertainty in detailed illumination conditions at particular locations at South Pole can lead to inaccurate expectations for solar-based power systems and potentially lead to insufficient power for surface systems. In addition, uncertainties in illumination profile can cause difficulties in traversing and a lack of situational awareness for astronauts on EVA reliant on vision and observable landmarks."

Benefits if data is available

"Increased confidence in selection of site to allow for sufficient power generation. Increased confidence in expected illumination profile during surface EVAs. Help in real time traverse planning and hazard avoidance. Allow science experts to identify targets for traverse planning. Additional advantage to incapacitated crew rescue traverse planning and landmark identification."

Traceability

  • Objectives: SE-05 LM (code as printed; the sheet gives no title)
  • Segment: Human Lunar Return (HLR): "The M2M segment during which the data is needed, but not necessarily when it is collected" (Data gaps spreadsheet, Key sheet). A segment is not a Moon Base phase.

Priority

None. The spreadsheet has no priority field, and the Users Guide calls the data-gap list "not comprehensive or prioritized" (Users Guide, p. 11).

Moon Base relevance

The Users Guide names DN-005 L for two associated challenges (Users Guide, pp. 12–13):

  • "Securing sites" (p. 12): "Identifying, selecting, and landing at individual sites requires more data about the lunar surface, including regolith properties, high-resolution imagery, mapping, and resource locations." Also cited: DN-001 L to DN-004 L, DN-006 L to DN-010 L, DN-013 L and DN-014 L. No tech gap.
  • "Solar power" (p. 13): "Deploying systems to generate, store, and distribute solar power requires precise knowledge of lighting conditions and array performance, as well as systems robust to the lunar environment." Also cited: data gap DN-019 L and tech gaps #0504, #0901 and #0903.

The guide ties its challenges to "near-term Moon Base development efforts": missions in phase one "offer opportunities to collect data and mature technologies to enable essential phase two and phase three capabilities" (p. 11). See Technology and knowledge challenges.

Sources

Data gaps spreadsheet, DN-005 L · Users Guide, pp. 11–13 · ADD Rev C, pp. 263, 269