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Exploring a Lunar Magnetic Anomaly: The Lunar Vertex PRISM Mission
  • +16
  • David Blewett,
  • Jasper Halekas,
  • George Ho,
  • Benjamin Greenhagen,
  • Brian Anderson,
  • Sarah Vines,
  • Leonardo Regoli,
  • Joerg-Micha Jahn,
  • Peter Kollmann,
  • Brett Denevi,
  • Heather Meyer,
  • Rachel Klima,
  • Joshua Cahill,
  • Lon Hood,
  • Sonia Tikoo-Schantz,
  • Xiao-Duan Zou,
  • Mark Wieczorek,
  • Myriam Lemelin,
  • Shahab Fatemi
David Blewett
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jasper Halekas
University of Iowa, University of Iowa
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George Ho
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Benjamin Greenhagen
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Brian Anderson
Johns Hopkins Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ
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Sarah Vines
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Leonardo Regoli
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Joerg-Micha Jahn
Southwest Research Institute, Southwest Research Institute
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Peter Kollmann
The Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins University, The Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins University
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Brett Denevi
JHU Applied Physics Lab, JHU Applied Physics Lab
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Heather Meyer
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
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Rachel Klima
JHU Applied Physics Lab, JHU Applied Physics Lab
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Joshua Cahill
JHU/APL, JHU/APL
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Lon Hood
University of Arizona, University of Arizona
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Sonia Tikoo-Schantz
Stanford University, Stanford University
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Xiao-Duan Zou
Planetary Science Institute Tucson, Planetary Science Institute Tucson
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Mark Wieczorek
Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur - Laboratoire Lagrange, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur - Laboratoire Lagrange
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Myriam Lemelin
University of Sherbrooke, University of Sherbrooke
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Shahab Fatemi
IRF Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna, IRF Swedish Institute of Space Physics Kiruna
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Abstract

NASA designated Reiner Gamma (RG) as the landing site for the first Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) delivery (dubbed PRISM-1a). Reiner Gamma is home to a magnetic anomaly, a region of magnetized crustal rocks. The RG magnetic anomaly is co-located with the type example of a class of irregular high-reflectance markings known as lunar swirls. RG is an ideal location to study how local magnetic fields change the interaction of an airless body with the solar wind, producing stand-off regions that are described as mini-magnetospheres. The Lunar Vertex mission, selected by NASA for PRISM-1a, has the following major goals: 1) Investigate the origin of lunar magnetic anomalies; 2) Determine the structure of the mini-magnetosphere that forms over the RG magnetic anomaly; 3) Investigate the origin of lunar swirls; and 4) Evaluate the importance of micrometeoroid bombardment vs. ion/electron exposure in the space weathering of silicate regolith. The mission goals will be accomplished by the following payload elements. The lander suite includes: The Vertex Camera Array (VCA), a set of fixed-mounted cameras. VCA images will be used to (a) survey landing site geology, and (b) perform photometric modeling to yield information on regolith characteristics. The Vector Magnetometer-Lander (VML) is a fluxgate magnetometer. VML will operate during descent and once on the surface to measure the in-situ magnetic field. Sophisticated gradiometry allows for separation of the natural field from that of the lander. The Magnetic Anomaly Plasma Spectrometer (MAPS) is a plasma analyzer that measures the energy, flux, and direction of ions and electrons. The lander will deploy a rover that conducts a traverse reaching ≥500 m distance, obtaining spatially distributed measurements at locations outside the zone disturbed by the lander rocket exhaust. The rover will carry two instruments: The Vector Magnetometer-Rover (VMR) is an array of miniature COTS magnetometers to measure the surface field. The Rover Multispectral Microscope (RMM) will collect images in the wavelength range ~0.34–1.0 um. RMM will reveal the composition, texture, and particle-size distribution of the regolith.