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Advances in Space Research 42 (2008) 235–237

www.elsevier.com/locate/asr

Journey to the Moon: Recent results, science,

future robotic and human exploration
Bernard H. Foing a,*, Pascale Ehrenfreund b
a
ILEWG Executive Director and ESTEC/SCI-S, Postbus 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
b
Leiden University, P.O. Box 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands

Received 11 January 2008; received in revised form 26 February 2008; accepted 11 March 2008

Abstract

The upcoming fleet of lunar missions, and the announcement of new lunar exploration initiatives, show an exciting ‘‘Journey to the
Moon”, covering recent results, science, future robotic and human exploration. We review some of the questions, findings and perspec-
tives given in the papers included in this issue of Advances in Space Research.
Ó 2008 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: ILEWG; Moon; SMART-1; Lunar exploration; Lunar science

1. From SMART-1 to the next steps of exploration one year extension until end of mission impact on 3 Sep-
tember 2006. The spacecraft carried out a complete pro-
Lunar science investigations include studies of the chem- gram of technology and science measurements. There was
ical composition of the Moon, of geophysical processes an experiment (KaTE) aimed at demonstrating deep-space
(volcanism, tectonics, cratering, erosion, polar regions) telemetry and telecommand communications in the X and
for comparative planetology, and high resolution studies Ka-bands, a radio-science experiment (RSIS), a deep space
in preparation for future steps of lunar exploration. The optical link (laser-link experiment), and the validation of a
missions address several topics such as the accretional pro- system of autonomous navigation (OBAN). For lunar sci-
cesses that led to the formation of rocky planets, and the ence, the payload included a miniaturized high-resolution
origin and evolution of the Earth–Moon system. camera (AMIE) for lunar surface imaging, a near-infrared
SMART-1 was the first of Small Missions for Advanced point-spectrometer (SIR) for lunar mineralogy investiga-
Research and Technology as part of the ESA science pro- tion, and a very compact X-ray spectrometer (D-CIXS)
gramme ‘‘Cosmic Vision”. Its objective was to demonstrate with a new type of detector and micro-collimator which
Solar Electric Primary Propulsion (SEP) for future corner- provided fluorescence spectroscopy and imagery of the
stones (such as Bepi-Colombo) and to test new technolo- Moon’s surface elemental composition.
gies for spacecraft and instruments. The spacecraft was
launched on 27 Sept. 2003, as an Ariane-5 auxiliary passen-
ger, and spiraled out towards lunar capture on 15 Novem- 2. Upcoming fleet of lunar orbiters and landers
ber 2004. It then spiraled down towards lunar science orbit
(300–3000 km) until March 2005. The SMART-1 mission Launched on 14 September 2007, the Kaguya spacecraft
orbited the Moon for a nominal period of six months, with was inserted in lunar elliptical orbit with apolune altitude
13,000 km on 18th September. Kaguya was injected into
the 100 km orbit on 4 October, a great event to celebrate
*
Corresponding author. 50 years of space age. After the mother spacecraft released
E-mail address: [email protected] (B.H. Foing). two small satellites for data relay and gravity (RSAT and

0273-1177/$34.00 Ó 2008 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2008.03.011
236 B.H. Foing, P. Ehrenfreund / Advances in Space Research 42 (2008) 235–237

VRAD), and a two-month period of successful check-out  Astronomy from the Moon, radiation, environment,
of the 14 instruments, the mission entered its nominal oper- resources (three talks, five posters).
ations phase on 21 December.  Future international lunar robotic and human explora-
Launched on 24 October 2007 by CNSA, Chang’e-1 rep- tion (five talks, two posters).
resents the first step in the Chinese ambition to land robotic  International lunar exploration space agencies panel (six
explorers on the Moon before 2020. It operates from a low, talks).
circular lunar orbit, just 200 km above the surface. ESA is  ILEWG round table and final discussion.
collaborating with the Chinese on this mission by provid-
ing ground operations support services. The session was co-sponsored by ESA, NASA, JAXA,
To be launched in spring 2008, Chandrayaan-1 will be the ISRO, CNSA, ILEWG, IAU, IAF, and COSPAR’s Space
first Indian scientific mission leaving Earth’s vicinity. It will Life Sciences scientific commission and the Panel on Plan-
study the Moon in great detail. Europe is supplying three etary Protection. With 49 oral presentations and 37 post-
instruments for the mission, for the first collaborative space ers, the Beijing session attracted a high number of
mission with the Indian Space Research Organisation participants around 100 (even more than the Mars session
(ISRO). The USA is providing two instruments. it partly overlapped) with good opportunities for informa-
The US Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is due to tion exchange and collaboration.
be launched around 28 October 2008, together with the As debated by tasks groups within the ILEWG forum,
LCROSS impactor. LRO has for objectives to finding safe and in previous ASR issues (see Foing (1994), Foing
landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the et al. (1996), Ip et al. (1999), Foing and Heather (2002),
radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology. Duke (2003), Ehrenfreund et al. (2006)), there are various
It is the first mission in NASA’s Vision for Space Explora- relevant aspects for future exploration:
tion, a plan to return to the moon and then to travel to Science opportunities: clues on the formation and evolu-
Mars and beyond. tion of rocky planets, accretion and bombardment in the
The objectives of the Lunar Crater Observation and inner solar system, comparative planetology processes (tec-
Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) include confirming the pres- tonic, volcanic, impact cratering, volatile delivery); records
ence or absence of water ice in a permanently shadowed of astrobiology, survival of organics; astronomy and space
crater at either the Moon’s north or south pole. science; past, present and future life; early Earth samples.
A number of concept studies for lunar landers have been New instrumentation: Remote sensing miniaturised
conducted. The goal is to demonstrate lunar landing, sur- instruments; surface geophysical and geochemistry pack-
vival and exploration technologies for the future, geochem- age; instrument deployment and robotic arm, nano-rover,
ical studies of the piles, and search for ice in permanent sampling, drilling; sample finder and collector.
shadows. They defined the top objectives, mission analysis, Technologies for robotic and human exploration: these
design and associated lander and rover, the possible pay- include Mecha-electronics-sensors; tele control, telepres-
load complement in discussion with the community. ence, virtual reality; regional mobility rover; atonomy
Finally, they discuss the required advances in planetary and navigation; artificially intelligent robots, complex sys-
robotics, required for both the polar lunar lander and for tems, man-machine interface and performances.
the sample return missions. Living off the land: Establishment of permanent robotic
infrastructures, environmental protection aspects; solu-
3. Reports on COSPAR sessions and the International Lunar tions to global Earth sustained development; life sciences
Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) activities: laboratories; support to human exploration; permanent
lunar settlements.
The COSPAR scientific session on ‘‘The Moon: recent
results, science, future robotic and human exploration”, at 4. Advances in space research: lunar science and exploration
the Beijing 2006 COSPAR assembly, took place on 20 July
and 21 July, a proper date to celebrate the Apollo 11 landing This issue of Advances in Space Research includes a
anniversary. The programme covered the following aspects: selection of papers on Lunar Science and Exploration.
The issue starts with a series of reports to COSPAR from
 New views of the Moon: recent results and science ques- the International Lunar Exploration Working Group
tions (four talks and 12 poster presentations). (ILEWG), and by the Lunar Declarations approved by
 SMART-1 technology and science highlights (eight talks the participants to the ILEWG International Conferences
and two poster presentations). on Exploration and Utilisation of the Moon (ICEUM) in
 Next orbiters: Selene, Chandrayaan-1 (10 talks, three Udaipur (2004), Toronto (2005), Beijing (2006) and Sorr-
posters). ento (2007). Then a series of lunar science papers describe
 Chang’E1 (two talks and eight posters). various aspects: Lunar International Science Coordina-
 Lunar reconnaissance (six talks). tion/Calibration Targets; Topography; Composition and
 Future lunar landers, rovers and technologies (four Mineralogy studies. In the following section are given
talks, five posters presentations). reports on upcoming missions: an overview of the Japanese
 B.H. Foing, P. Ehrenfreund / Advances in Space Research 42 (2008) 235–237 237

lunar mission SELENE: science goals and present status, References

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