Lunette: A Two-Lander Discovery-Class Geophysics Mission to the Moon

The document “The Scientific Context for the Exploration of the Moon” [1] designated understanding the structure and composition of the lunar interior (to provide fundamental information on the evolution of a differentiated planetary body) as the second highest priority lunar science concept that needed to be addressed. To this end, the Science Mission Directorate formulated the International Lunar Network (ILN) mission concept (web site) that enlisted international partners to enable the establishment of a geophysical network on the lunar surface. NASA would establish the first four “anchor nodes” in the 2018 time frame. These nodes are envisioned to use radioisotope power systems to allow operation of each node for at least 6 years. Each anchor node will contain a seismometer, magnetometer, laser retroreflector, and a heat flow probe [2] and will be distributed across the lunar surface to form a much more widespread network that the Apollo passive seismic, magnetometer, heat flow, and the Apollo and Luna laser retroreflector networks. (Fig. 1). It is planned that the four anchor nodes will be launched on an Atlas 5 launch vehicle and the cost is estimated to exceed that for a New Frontiers mission. What we present here is an alternative to the ILN architecture that will still return the data required to understand the nature of the lunar interior and determine how the Moon evolved

TransFormers for Ensuring Long-Term Operations in Lunar Extreme Environments

"Surviving Extreme Space Environments" (EE) is one of NASA's Space Technology Grand Challenges. Power generation and thermal control are the key survival ingredients that allow a robotic explorer to cope with the EE using resources available to it, for example, by harvesting the local solar energy or by utilizing an onboard radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). TransFormers (TFs) are a new technology concept designed to transform a localized area within a harsh extreme environment into a survivable micro-environment by projecting energy to the precise location where robots or humans operate. For example, TFs placed at a location on the rim of Shackleton Crater, which is illuminated by solar radiation for most of the year, would be able to reflect solar energy onto robots operating in the dark cold crater. TFs utilize a shape transformation mechanism to un-fold from a compact volume to a large reflective surface, and to control how much-and where-the energy is projected, and by adjusting for the changing position of the sun. TFs would enable in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) activities within locations of high interest that would normally be unreachable because of their extreme environmen

SMART-1 Impact Ground-based campaign

Based on predictions of impact magnitude and cloud ejecta dynamics, we organized a SMART-1 ground-based observation campaign to perform coordinated measurements of the impact. Results from the coordinated multi-site campaign will be discussed

Direct Multipixel Imaging and Spectroscopy of an Exoplant with a Solar Gravity Lens Mission

We report here on the results of our initial study of a mission to the deep outer regions of our solar system, with the primary mission objective of conducting direct megapixel high-resolution imag- ing and spectroscopy of a potentially habitable exoplanet by exploiting the remarkable optical properties of the SGL. Our main goal was not to study how to get there (although this was also addressed), but rather, to investigate what it takes to operate spacecraft at such enormous distances with the needed precision. Specifically, we studied i) how a space mission to the focal region of the SGL may be used to obtain high-resolution direct imaging and spectroscopy of an exoplanet by detecting, tracking, and studying the Einstein ring around the Sun, and ii) how such information could be used to detect signs of life on another planet

An Adjunct Galilean Satellite Orbiter Using a Small Radioisotope Power Source

This is a conceptual mission study intended to demonstrate the range of possible missions and applications that could be enabled were a new generation of Small Radioisotope Power Systems to be developed by NASA and DOE. While such systems are currently being considered by NASA and DOE, they do not currently exist. This study is one of several small RPS-enabled mission concepts that were studied and presented in the NASA/JPL document "Enabling Exploration with Small Radioisotope Power Systems" available at: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/download-detail.cfm?DL_ID=8

The digital revolution in education: Digital citizenship and multi-literacy of mobile technology

This chapter aims to provide an outline of the digital revolution and the way that mobile devices facilitate participation in the Information age. It provides readers with a broad understanding of the key developments that have emerged over the past two decades as well as the current developments in this area. New and emerging practices relating to the use of mobile technologies for learning and their underlying drivers will be explored. The interconnectivity of applications and devices that is closely linked to concepts of multiple literacies and digital citizenship will be discussed. This brief review of the emerging technology landscape allows for greater appreciation and fuller exploitation of the potential that mobile technologies hold and provides a portrayal of its topography to enable conceptualization at a macro-level. © 2011, IGI Global