Monday / 14 January 2002

'New Views of the Moon, Europe' to Focus on Future Lunar Exploration. The meeting begins today at German Aerospace Center DLR in Berlin and it will study the 'Future Lunar Exploration, Science Objectives, and Integration of Datasets' through 16 Jan. The aim of the meeting is to bring together the space community to discuss recent science results, present plans for upcoming missions. Also to highlight steps required addressing some of the fundamental issues in lunar science. The meeting is jointly sponsored by ESTEC's Research and Scientific Support Department (ESA), DLR, and ILEWG. The symposium is divided into three parts. Session 1 is called 'Lunar Volcanism and the Internal / Thermal Evolution of the Moon' and will focus on the origin, timing and distribution of lunar mare. Some topics include lunar igneous processes, magmatic gas, pyroclastic eruptions, geophysics, mineralogy, asymmetries, and 'Th and Fe contents in geological units of Apollo 12 and 14 region'. Lunar Chronology, Clementine and Lunar Prospector Remote Sensing Perspectives conclude the session. Poster presentations follow in the evening and focus on lunar science, upcoming funded missions, and future exploration. Session 2 begins with 'The Crustal and Internal Structure of the Moon', Discussions center on surface heat flow, lunar core, 3D convection, Moonquakes, lunar density profiles, and asymmetries in Kepler Crater. It is followed by 'Upcoming Lunar Missions: SELENE, Lunar-A, and Smart-1'. Bernard Foing (ESA) chairs Session 3, 'Future Lunar Exploration: Science and Missions.' He will deliver 'Future Lunar Exploration: Science and Missions' and 'ESA Views of the Moon'. Mike Duke (NASA) speaks on 'Exploration, Utilization and Development of Moon'. Wendell Mendell concludes with 'NASA Views of the Moon'. For more information email Convener David Heather at dheather@so.estec.esa.nl.

Leading Chinese Space Experts Delineate the Nation's Lunar Prospects. The 7 January issue of Zhongguo Hangtian Bao's (China Space News) special issue "To Realize China's Lunar Dream" features four articles on the nation's lunar project. All these articles published in the newspaper run by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation also have been posted on the China National Space Administration's official website. In "The Prospects of China's Lunar Exploration," Chinese Academy of Sciences members Zhuang Fenggan, founder of China's Aerodynamics Research and Development Center in Sichuan, and Yu Menglun, rocket experts Long Lehao and Tang Yihua of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology urge the nation's space agency to simplify the mission design, using the CZ 3A rocket to launch an orbiting or soft landing mission to the Moon as soon as possible. Planetary scientist Ouyang Ziyuan of CAS's Institute of Geochemistry in Guiyang has revealed earlier in his presentation titled "The Development and Prospects of Lunar Exploration" at the Science and the General Public Forum held in Beijing in mid December that China may launch its 1st mission to the Moon with one billion yuan (US$122M). With Yang Jiachi, also a CAS member, Ouyang further elaborates the scientific significance and practical purposes of lunar expedition in their contribution to the special issue. Besides the unique science advantages on the Moon, such as astronomical observations from observatories on lunar surface, they particularly point out that the Moon is an ideal environment for enhancing international cooperation in peaceful exploration of space. China should not simply repeat what other spacefaring powers have done on the Moon, the upcoming missions should prepare for establishing a lunar base and utilizing resource on the Moon in the future, they suggest.

Cryobot Ice-Penetrating Robot Undergoes Tests in Arctic. Researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have teamed up with the Norwegian Polar Institute to test the capabilities of Cryobot, the ice-penetrating robot that may one day explore frozen surfaces on the Moon or Mars. Cryobot is being tested at Spitsbergen, an island located above the Arctic Circle in the Norwegian-administered territory of Svalbad. Conditions on Spitsbergen, which include short days, cold temperatures and frequent snow, have been difficult, but Cryobot has successfully completed its first test by penetrating 23 meters into the ice. "The test showed the design has viability," said Lloyd French, JPL's Cryobot task manager. The 1st model of the Cryobot is a 1-meter long cylinder with a 12-centimeter diameter. Heated water at the downward end melts ice, and gravity provides the propulsion. Instruments such as a camera and chemical sensor ride aboard to study the deep layers without the need to hoist a core to the surface. A tether behind the vehicle provides an electronic link to the onboard instruments and carries electricity from the surface to supply heat in the Cryobot. "There's never been a probe before that does what this one can," said lead engineer Wayne Zimmerman.