http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp nasa/nsta web seminar: lunar exploration: mapping the...
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http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp
NASA/NSTA Web Seminar:
Lunar Exploration: Mapping the Moon
LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP
Mapping the MoonAnuradha Koratkar, Susan Hoban
Albert Hill, Brendan Shaughnessy
Why do we need maps?
• To locate something
• To navigate to a certain location
• To explore a region
• To build something in an area
• To determine the boundaries of an area
We need maps for multiple reasons
Why map the Moon?
• Longest Apollo mission was 12 days. Now this time around we plan to go for months to the Moon.
• We need to land safely, find a site for a habitat, and explore the surface.
• Need to know the lay of the land, or scientifically we need to know the lunar topology. Accurate maps are essential for exploration activities.
1 m 10 m 100 m
1 km 10 km 100 km
How do we see an object?
Talk on the telephone. Unmute by using *6
• To “see” an object, radiation has to be reflected or transmitted from that object.
• To “see” an object, it must be about the same size or larger than the wavelength of the radiation that is used to see it.
Light source
Detector/Eye
How do we map something?
• Draw a picture
• Take a photograph
Can you estimate the size and height of some of the features by just looking at this picture?
How do we generate topographic maps?
• Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) is a technique used to determine the distance to an object or surface.
• LIDAR typically uses UV, visible or IR pulses.
Scattered lightScattered light
Receiver telescope (Tr)
Basic operation of a LIDAR altimeter
Range = c*(Tr- T0)/2
Laser pulse transmitter (T0)
Satellite orbit
Reference level
0
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2
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7A B C D E F G
3 clicks 6
clicks
0
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7A B C D E F G
MOLA Topographic map of Mars
Poll question
(a) 1-2 m
(b) 1-2 km
(c) 5-8 km
(d) 5-8 m
The average elevation of the southern highlands is?
Poll question (T/F)
The nearside of the moon has less variation than the far-side of the moon.
(a) True
(b) False
Lay of the land Resource availability
Access
Building cost Maintenance Other
• We defined a matrix which helps us decide which site best fits our needs.
• We need to do a similar analysis to find a site to land on the Moon.
Factors that affect choice of site on the Moon
Talk on the telephone. Unmute by using *6
Factors that affect choice of site
• Orbital mechanics
• Landing safety
• Mobility
• Power
• Communication
• In situ resources
Independent of the choice of site we will need accurate maps essential for landing safely and for exploration
• Accuracy of <3m in elevation and <30m in the horizontal.
• The landing sites will be at a better accuracy (<1m vertical)
Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission will determine global topography.
1 m 10 m 100 m
1 km 10 km 100 km
If you have any questions let us discuss them on the discussion listserv. Flavio will send everyone a
link to subscribe to it.
For those of you working on earning two credits, there is homework. Flavio will send you a
message with a link to it.Please send it in by 14th Nov. 2006
See you at the next session on the 14th of Nov. which will be:
Water, Water Everywhere?