From International Astronautical Federation

Plenary Seven
Human Lunar Exploration

This panel asked agency representatives to summarise the recent robotic lunar exploration results. It looked at the international status of human lunar exploration, discussing how to participate with specific details on possible missions, how affordable they are and how they reward investment.

Post-ISS space activity may be related to the human activity beyond Earth orbit, perhaps with an emphasis upon human lunar exploration. In view of sustainable space activity versus economy, the energy and environmental issues humans currently face, the panel will discuss why we should embark on these activities.

Prof. Junichiro Kawaguchi was the Moderator.

David Kendall started his presentation stating that an important goal is to carry out space exploration and there is a great need for a human programme. A further goal is to make the trip to Mars. An exploring programme has to bring governments on board with the policy goals and international relations.

Michel Tognini gave a presentation on the ESA human spaceflight programme. Its objectives are:

• continue and extend operations in LEO for increased utilisation of ISS capabilities to prepare for human exploration
• development of ARV (Advanced Re-Entry Vehicle) cargo versions
• development of capabilities that enable lunar exploration

Life and physical science research are pursued through the European ELIPS programme. An autonomous robotic system will play a major role in Europe's participation to future lunar exploration. Later robotic missions will help in human exploration operations. For human exploration a significant role is expected from the EU and national agencies.

Dr V. Adimurthy explained the phase one study of the Indian Earth orbital missions. The objective for space exploration is to obtain the origin and evolution of planets, comets and asteroid as well as surface chemistry and topography. For the atmosphere, the goals are to determine:

• composition and structure
• the interaction with solar radiation and particles as well as fields and plasma environments
• internal structures such as the crust, mantle and core of magnetic fields
• the origin and evolution of life.

Yoshiyuki Hasegawa gave a presentation explaining the current Robotic Exploration activity and the current Human Space activity at each agency. He talked about the SELENE, SELENE-2 (2015) and SELENE-X (2020) missions as well as the Human Lander and Rover proposed for 2025. There is a common goal so there is a need to share which should happen multi-laterally. To implement the human space exploration it is neccessary to build the international programme as a core of NASA's leadership.

Joo-Jin Lee presented Korea's National Space Development Plan. He talked of COMS-1 in 2009 and KOMPSAT-5 in 2010. For the Lunar Exploration Mission he explained the process which Korea will use to undertake the objectives, from space science and technology progress to KSLV-2 availability maximisation. He later presented the KSLV-2 performance capabilities. The final decision for Korean lunar missions is pending government approval.

Douglas Cooke presented the LRO/LCROSS and the LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) missions. LRO/LCROSS were launched in June 2009 and the LCROSS impact occured on 9 October 2009. He also presented the Ares I-X flight test which is ready to launch on the 27 October 2009. He explained the Ares DM-I and its successful test firing. He presented the Orion crew module that will be used for the Orion Launch Abort System and the ATHLETE rover. He explained the COTS-funded agreements. There is a great importance of exploration in the future - it needs to be built on international relations and with space agencies.

Sergey Saveliev presented the current Russian projects of unmanned spaceflights to the Moon. Luna-Glob will be ready by the year 2012 and he outlined the various modules of the mission which will aim at studying the surface and geology of the Moon. Moon observation and data relay will be performed by the Indian orbiter Chandrayaan-2. He also presented the Luna-Resurs plan. Once outpost is complete, there will be a habitable base. There will be intensification of lunar activities in the field of scientific and applied use of the Moon including a base for interplanetary flights.

The participants of the panel all agreed that international coordination is the correct approach for their objectives.

Reported by Jeffrey Rivera

Presentations

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