Over the last two decades a wealth of new observations of the moon have demonstrated a lunar water system dramatically more complex and rich than was deduced following the Apollo era. Lunar water, and other volatiles, have the potential to be a valuable or enabling resource for future exploration. The NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) have selected a lunar volatiles prospecting mission for a concept study and potential flight in CY2021. The mission includes a rover-borne payload that (1) can locate surface and near-subsurface volatiles, (2) excavate and analyze samples of the volatile-bearing regolith, and (3) demonstrate the form, extractability and usefulness of the materials.


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    Title :

    Resource Prospector: An Update on the Lunar Volatiles Prospecting and ISRU Demonstration Mission


    Contributors:
    Colaprete, A. (author) / Elphic, R. (author) / Andrews, D. (author) / Trimble, J. (author) / Bluethmann, B. (author) / Quinn, J. (author) / Chavers, G. (author)

    Conference:

    SSERVII Workshop on the Moon Meeting ; 2016 ; Laurel, MD, United States


    Publication date :

    2016-11-15


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English