Lunar SMARTs For ESA

MART-1 Advanced Moon Imaging Experiment (AMIE) has now collected a number of images of the lunar south-polar region. They have provided unprecedented spatial resolution. These images were collected over a year of changing seasons and are used to study the various levels of solar illumination on the Moon’s surface. They will also provide tools to assist planners in focusing on suitable study sites for future lunar exploration missions. The orientation of the lunar rotation axis is such that the Sun just about grazes the lunar poles, leaving some regions permanently shadowed.

Shackleton crater is located in the inner ring of the south pole Aitken basin, the largest known impact basin in the solar system with a diameter of 2600 km. The south pole is located on the rim of Shackleton crater. SMART-1 took images around the crater, which is a strong contender for a future robotic and human exploration site and for a permanent human base. The polar mosaics show geological features of interest within reach from the south pole. Monitoring of the illumination of selected polar sites has allowed scientists to confirm that a ridge located 10 km from the Shackleton rim is prominently illuminated, and could be a strong contender for a potential future lunar outpost. The large number of impact craters in the area indicates that the terrain is ancient. An example is crater Amundsen, 105 km in diameter, lying 100 km from the pole. It shows central peaks and asymmetric terraces that deserve geological and geochemistry studies. The south polar mosaics, SMART-1 highlights, and results on the geology and illumination of Shackleton crater are being presented and discussed by the SMART-1 AMIE team and collaborators at the 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference at League City, Texas between 11-12 March 2008.