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Science Goals
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Implementation
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(a)
Information Extraction
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(b)
Orbital Measurements
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(c)
Sample Return
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(d)
Landed Experiments,Instruments,and Rovers
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(e)
Human Field work
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An enabling new framework for lunar exploration will be provided by data from SMART-1, SELENE, Chang’e, Chandrayaan-1, and LRO. The assumptionis that all missions and key instruments will be successful.
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Orbital measurements are not included in the complement of missions planned for launch by 2008. The assumption is that the four missions planned will return appropriate data as planned; if not, new measurements that provide similar high-priority compositional and geophysical data need to be acquired.
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The types of returned samples and of science analyses required are identified.
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These include science measurements for/from landed sites; category also encompasses penetrators/impactors.
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Science areas that specifically benefit from human capabilities are identified.
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1a. Test the cataclysmhypothesis by determining the spacing in time of the lunar basins.
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Continue geochronology of impact-melt rocks in the Apollo and meteorite collections. Use remote sensing to help determine the regional geologiccontext of returned samples.
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Higher-resolution images to provide targeted crater counts on selected ejecta facies.
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Sample return from the SPA Basin melt sheetand from floors or ejecta of basins within the SPA Basin for detailed geochemical and isotopic analyses.
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Develop instrumentsfor precise, in situ geochronology. Use landed geochemical instrumentation to identify best samples for return.
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Identify and acquire samples of impact-melt rocks in the Nectaris basin.
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1b. Anchor the earlyEarth-Moon impact flux curve by determining the age of the oldest lunar basin (South Pole-Aitken Basin).
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Search for SPA Basin materials in existing collection. Continue study of the ancient terrestrial crater record through fieldwork and zircon evidence.
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Higher-resolution images to provide targeted crater counts on ejecta of basins within the SPA Basin to bound a limit on the SP A Basin age.
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Sample return from the SPA Basin melt sheet and from floors or ejecta of basins within the SPA Basin for detailed geochemical and isotopic analyses.
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Develop instrumentsfor precise, in situ geochronology. Use landed geochemical instrumentation to identify best samples for return.
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Human geologic fieldwork increases chances of recognizing the best samples.
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1c. Establish a precise absolute chronology.
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Compare new remote sensing data sets with Apollo-era data sets to detect formation of new craters.
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Higher-resolution images to provide targeted crater counts of undisturbed ejecta surfaces from, e.g., Orientale, Imbrium, and Copernicus.
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Sample return from key benchmark basins, craters (e.g., Copernicus, Tycho), and lava flows for precise isotopic dating.
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Develop instrumentsfor precise, in situ geochronology. Use landed geochemical instrumentation to identify best samples for return.
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Human geologic fieldwork increases chances of recognizing the best samples.
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