Understanding lunar material at depth is critical to nearly every aspect of NASA s Vision and Strategic Plan. As we consider sending human s back to the Moon for brief and extended periods, we will need to utilize lunar materials in construction, for resource extraction, and for radiation shielding and protection. In each case, we will be working with materials at some depth beneath the surface. Understanding the properties of that material is critical, thus the need for Lunar core drilling capability. Of course, the science benefit from returning core samples and operating down-hole autonomous experiments is a key element of Lunar missions as defined by NASA s Exploration Systems Architecture Study. Lunar missions will be targeted to answer specific questions concerning lunar science and re-sources.
Concepts and Benefits of Lunar Core Drilling
Science Association with Lunar Exploration Architecture ; 2007 ; Tempe, AZ, United States
2007-01-01
Conference paper
No indication
English
NTRS | 1968
|AIAA | 2009
|NTRS | 1985