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The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon: Final Report (2007)
Space Studies Board (SSB)

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. "Front Matter." The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon: Final Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007.

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The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon

Contents

 

  

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  

1

1

  

INTRODUCTION

  

7
   

 Why Lunar Science?,

  

7
   

 Overarching Themes,

  

7
   

 Structure of This Report,

  

9

2

  

CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF EARLY EARTH AND THE MOON

  

10
   

 The Moon Since Apollo: Major Hypotheses and Enabling Factors,

  

10
   

 Testing the Paradigms,

  

14
   

 The Lunar Atmosphere,

  

18

3

  

SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND GOALS

  

20
   

 Science Concepts and Key Science Goals Identified with Each: A Tabular Presentation,

  

20
   

 Discussion of Science Concepts and Key Science Goals Identified with Each,

  

20
   

 Concept 1:  The bombardment history of the inner solar system is uniquely revealed on the Moon,

  

20
   

 Concept 2:  The structure and composition of the lunar interior provide fundamental information on the evolution of a differentiated planetary body,

  

25
   

 Concept 3:  Key planetary processes are manifested in the diversity of lunar crustal rocks,

  

28
   

 Concept 4:  The lunar poles are special environments that may bear witness to the volatile flux over the latter part of solar system history,

  

31
   

 Concept 5:  Lunar volcanism provides a window into the thermal and compositional evolution of the Moon,

  

36
   

 Concept 6:  The Moon is an accessible laboratory for studying the impact process on planetary scales,

  

38
   

 Concept 7:  The Moon is a natural laboratory for regolith processes and weathering on anhydrous airless bodies,

  

41
   

 Concept 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,

  

43
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