Through this series of short, focused workshops, we continue to solicit input from the community on the potential for new scientific research that could be enabled by human exploration near the lunar south pole. In addition, we want to identify and help to close knowledge gaps associated with crew activities and safety.
Virtual Session 5: October 28, 2020
Science Enabled by Mobility
12:00–5:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (UTC -4)
Major questions to be addressed:
- Mobility: Drive it like you stole it.
- What scientific investigations are uniquely enabled by mobility? Crewed or uncrewed?
- What scientific investigations are enhanced by mobility? Crewed or uncrewed?
- What are the necessary capabilities of the mobile platform (range, survive the night, communications, sampling, remote operations, etc.)?
Virtual Session 4: September 30, 2020
Planetary Protection/PSR Classification
Major questions to be addressed:
- PP/PSR: Not all PSRs are created equal.
- What are the major distinctions among PSRs?
- How do we identify and classify different PSRs (e.g., keep-out zones vs. robotic/crew exploration targets vs. impact targets)?
- What other locations (or portions therein) need to be classified? (e.g., heritage sites [A11–17, Luna, Surveyor, Chang’E]; past impact sites [LCROSS, S-IVB, Apollo ascent stages, LADEE, etc.]; current missions [NASA, commercial, international]; future infrastructure sites [crewed landings, solar farms, sustainable base]).
- How do we set policy to govern PSRs and other sensitive/strategic sites within our own agency, the commercial sector, and internationally?
Virtual Session 3: August 20, 2020
Lunar Dust and Regolith
Downloadable Virtual Session 3 Program
Virtual Session 2: July 29–30, 2020
Lunar Volatiles and Samples
NCTS #42295-20
Downloadable Virtual Session 2 Program
Virtual Session 2 Presentation Recordings
Virtual Session 1: May 28–29, 2020
Overview and Tools and Instruments
Downloadable Virtual Session 1 Program
Virtual Session 1 Presentation Recordings
Use these links to access the program and abstracts and author index for the originally scheduled in-person workshop on April 28–30, 2020.
Original Workshop Concept
NASA was organizing a workshop to discuss new scientific research that could be enabled by human exploration near the lunar south pole.
NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and Space Technology Mission Directorate were co-sponsoring a three-day workshop to actively engage the scientific community in order to determine what science could be done by human crews on the lunar surface and how it can be achieved. This workshop was to be held April 28–30, 2020 at the Westin Denver International Airport. Attendance was open only to speakers, or their delegates, and selected invitees. Only one attendee per abstract was permitted. Portions of the workshop were to be streamed live for those who could not attend in person.
Revised Workshop Plan
Purpose and Scope
In accordance with the Space Policy Directive-1, NASA is planning a human return to the Moon’s surface by 2024 as a large next step in human exploration of the solar system. The NASA Artemis program is being conducted in two phases: Phase 1 will see the next human beings set foot on the lunar surface near the Moon's south pole, and Phase 2 will create a sustained human presence on the lunar surface by 2028. Community input and early integration of science into the exploration architecture are essential to maximizing the science return from the Artemis missions.
Initial strategies for science payload delivery include using the Artemis 2024 lander, as well as pre-deployment of tools and experiments through Commercial Lunar Payloads Services (CLPS) deliveries. Astronauts could then deploy/operate/utilize these tools and experiments once on the surface. It is expected that some science investigations may require the attention of a crew to deploy/conduct experiments, while other investigations may simply use the Artemis architecture as infrastructure to supply power, communications, etc. to otherwise autonomous systems.
