The European Space Agency (ESA) has studied the performance of future space-based optical interferometers. Included was an analysis of a candidate design of a lunar surface instrument with a 5-km separation between the indivdual telescopes. The report predicted that observations on the Moon would be impeded by an incessant rain of micrometorites which would disrupt interferograms approximately every 7 seconds via seismic disturbances. Examination of 8 years of data from the Apollo seismic stations shows that a disruptive seismic event from a meteorite striking the Moon should occur no more than once a year at any given site.
Effect of the Lunar Seismic Environment on a Moon-Based Optical Interferometer
Sixth ASCE Specialty Conference and Exposition on Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space ; 1998 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Space 98 ; 451-461
1998-04-21
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English