Characterization of sites of scientific interest for ESA's PROSPECT instrument

Abstract

Many upcoming lunar missions and payloads are targeting the south pole of the Moon, due to the volatiles potentially harboured in this region including ESA's PROSPECT instrument. PROSPECT is designed to sample the lunar regolith within the first meter of the surface and to analyse any volatiles found. Remote sensing methods and a range of datasets including thermal models, illumination models, LRO NAC images, LOLA DEMs and LRO NAC DEMs generated with shape-from-shading, were used to identify suitable areas for PROSPECT science within the south polar region (84–90°S). Sites identified were down selected using a science matrix and scoring sites of interest based on if and how well the point of interest met the science requirements of PROSPECT. The highest scoring sites are presented and proposed to be ideal candidate landing sites for missions targeting the lunar south polar region, especially for missions that are interested in sampling volatiles, micro cold traps and Permanently Shaded Regions (PSRs). Understanding and sampling these colder areas within the south polar region will advance the understanding of volatiles within the lunar surface and volatile transfer.