3D Animations

Here are two 3D animations that I have made that show two of the Penetrator Missions that I have been involved with

ESA LaPlace Mission to Europa - 150MB

MoonLITE Mission to the Moon - 170MB

Introduction

Kinetic micro-penetrators are very light self-contrained spacecraft that impact the surface of other worlds at high speed and bury themselves into the surface a few metres. The advantage is that because of the low mass, they are potentially a low cost way of exploring other worlds.

The UK Penetrator consortium is aiming at launching a Lunar probe that weighs around 13Kg with an additional similar mass to decelerate and align it to survive impact at around 300m/s (equivalent to around Mach 1 on Earth).

The Mission

Four penetrators would be delivered into Lunar orbit aboard a mothership, which would also provide communications support. They would be launched from the orbiter, and fire a solid rocket motor to knock them out of orbit. They then impact the ground and bury themselves a few meters down.

The Landing sites would be widely spaced across Lunar surface to support a seismic and heat flow network; with at least one site on far side; and one at the moon's polar regions (probably South Pole Aiken basin) to look for water. The Surface mission would last at least a year.

Science & Payload

The proposed mission to the moon would address the following key science which could be incorporated into a kinetic micro-penetrator payload :-

• Lunar Seismology
  A network of micro-seismometers could detect the presence and measure the size of a lunar iron core; determine crustal and basal fill thickness; the deep structure of lunar mantle; the origin and location of the enigmatic shallow moonquakes. These would benefit understanding of Moon's residual magnetism; origin of Earth-Moon system; and evolution of planetary magnetic fields.
• Lunar Thermal Gradients
  Passive thermometers would be capable of determining heat flow from the Lunar interior and information on inhomogeneity of crustal heat producing elements (U,K,Th). This is relevant to understanding the Moon's early history.
• Lunar Water and other Volatiles Sensing
  Water sensors capable of detecting the presence, extent, and concentration of water and other volatiles (organic), would provide information on Lunar evolution and future Lunar resources. If possible, an isotope discrimination capability could also provide information on the origin of the water. Such information could also be relevant to astrobiology including the highly controversial panspermic theory of the origin of life on Earth.
• Geochemical Analysis
  Provide ground truth for remote sensing XFA and multi-spectral imaging.
• Far Side Science
  As there has not yet been a landing on the far side of the moon, and there is evidence that the near and far sides of the Moon may be quite different internally, this could determine differences in regolith, lunar interior structure and composition.

See the website of the penetrator consortium.