![]() ![]() This initiative aims to enable the Canadian space sector to develop and conduct science experiments designed for lunar conditions, to help prepare for robotic and human missions, advance and demonstrate innovative technologies in lunar orbit and on the Moon’s surface, and begin to develop technologies that will be required as part of future deep-space missions. Canada is among the various nations with an interest in participating in lunar exploration, and has made long-term commitments to this endeavor through various initiatives, largely through the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).Īmong Canada’s commitments is a support program termed the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) ( ). It is an objective with wide international support (e.g., ISECG, 2018). All of the major minerals present on the Moon can be detected, and in many cases their compositions can be quantified or constrained.Įxploration of the Moon is being undertaken by a number of nations and organizations. Testing of a breadboard and commercial instrument on lunar samples and analogues indicates that a complete spectral scan of a target of interest can be completed in ∼90 min, permitting its use on even short-duration lunar landed missions. Our laboratory investigations indicate that Raman spectroscopy is applicable to addressing a wide range of lunar surface exploration goals related to geology, in situ resource identification, and condensed volatile detection in diverse geological terrains, including permanently shadowed regions. A downward-looking context camera would provide information on the physical nature of targets interrogated by the Raman spectrometer and localization of the Raman spectra. The current conceptual design envisions the Raman spectrometer performing a downward-looking, 90-point one-dimensional across-track scan (±45°off nadir) of the lunar surface with the instrument mounted on the underside of a rover. It consists of a breadboard instrument that covers the 150–4000 cm −1 wavelength range with a resolution of ∼6 cm −1 Raman scattering is induced by a 532 nm continuous wave laser. The LunaR concept study investigated the scientific value, feasibility, and deployment options for a Raman spectrometer on future lunar landed missions. 4MPB Communications Inc, Pointe-Claire, QC, Canada.3Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, Bolton, ON, Canada.2Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.1Centre for Terrestrial and Planetary Exploration, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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