|
|
|
Overarching Themes
|
|
|
Science Concepts
|
Science Goals
|
Early Earth-Moon System
|
Terrestrial Planet Differentiation and Evolution
|
Solar System Impact Record
|
Lunar Environment
|
Implications for Life
|
|
5. Lunar volcanism provides a window into the thermal and compositional evolution of the moon.
|
5a. Determine the origin and variability of lunar basalts.
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
5b. Determine the age of the youngest and oldest mare basalts.
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
|
5c. Determine the compositional range and extent of lunar pyroclastic deposits.
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
5d. Determine the flux of lunar volcanism and its evolution through space and time.
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
6. The Moon is an accessible laboratory for studying the impact process on planetary scales.
|
6a. Characterize the existence and extent of melt sheet differentiation.
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
|
6b. Determine the structure of multi-ring impact basins.
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
6c. Quantify the effects of planetary characteristics (composition, density, impact velocities) on crater formation and morphology.
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
6d. Measure the extent of lateral and vertical mixing of local and ejecta material.
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
7. The Moon is a natural laboratory for regolith processes and weathering on anhydrous airless bodies.
|
7a. Search for and characterize ancient regolith.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
7b. Determine physical properties of the regolith at diverse locations of expected human activity.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
7c. Understand regolith modification processes (including space weathering), particularly deposition of volatile materials.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
7d. Separate and study rare materials in the lunar regolith.
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
8. Processes involved with the atmosphere and dust environment of the moon are accessible for scientific study while the environment remains in a pristine state.
|
8a. Determine the global density, composition, and time variability of the fragile lunar atmosphere before it is perturbed by further human activity.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
8b. Determine the size, charge, and spatial distribution of electrostatically transported dust grains and assess their likely effects on lunar exploration and lunar-based astronomy.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
8c. Use the time-variable release rate of atmospheric species such as 40Ar and radon to learn more about the inner workings of the lunar interior.
|
|
X
|
|
X
|
|
|
8d. Learn how water vapor and other volatiles are released from the lunar surface and migrate to the poles where they are adsorbed in polar cold traps.
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
