AbstractThe lunar regolith contains the best accessible record of the solar wind composition of the past few billion years. Interpreting this record crucially depends on our understanding of the implantation mechanisms, potential alternative sources other than the solar wind, storage and degradation processes, and transport- and loss-mechanisms of trapped particles in the regolith. We therefore suggest that a future mission to the Moon should contain the following objectives: 1) A thorough in-situ investigation of the contemporary solar wind composition by means of long-duration exposure experiments with various techniques as baseline for investigation of the historic and ancient solar wind. 2) A multidisciplinary program, involving an experimental investigation of implantation-, storage- and loss-processes of solar particles at the conditions of the lunar environment. This program is complementary to an elaborated systematic sampling of all layers of the lunar regolith, based on the experience from the Apollo- and the Luna-missions. Difficulties with the interpretation of the lunar record are illuminated in the case of surface correlated nitrogen. 3) A complementary goal for the extensive sampling of the lunar surface is the documentation of the lunar regolith for future generations, prior to extended human activities which could have detrimental effects to the lunar environment.
Solar wind composition from the moon
Advances in Space Research ; 14 , 6 ; 161-173
1994-01-01
13 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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