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The Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX)

The Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX) for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Mission Z. Sternovsky, M. Horányi, E Grün, R Srama * , M. Lankton and D. Gathright LASP, University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado Center for Lunar Dust and Atmospheric Studies,

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The Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX)

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  1. The Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX) for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) MissionZ. Sternovsky, M. Horányi, E Grün, R Srama*, M. Lankton and D. Gathright LASP, University of Colorado at Boulder Colorado Center for Lunar Dust and Atmospheric Studies, (*) Max-Planck-Institute for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg, Germany

  2. LADEE motivation LADEE: Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer Remote observations of the Na exosphere (Potter & Morgan, 1998) • Identified species: 40Ar, 36Ar, 222Rb, He, Na, K C, N, O, CO2, CH4 • Measurements are not detailed enough • Accurate composition measurements BEFORE disturbing by increased robotic and human activity Is dust really lofting from the lunar surface?

  3. LADEE Payload Neutral Mass Spectrometer (NMS) MSL/SAM Heritage UV Spectrometer (UVS) LCROSS heritage SMD - Directed instrument SMD - Directed instrument In situ measurement of exospheric species P. Mahaffy NASA GSFC (Directed – SMD) Dust and exosphere measurements A. Colaprete NASA ARC (Directed – SMD) 300 Dalton range/unit mass resolution Lunar Dust EXperiment (LDEX) Impact ionization dust detector Lunar Laser Com Demo (LLCD) Technology demonstration High Data Rate Optical Comm D. Boroson MIT-LL (Directed – SOMD) HEOS 2, Galileo, Ulysses and Cassini Heritage M. Horányi LASP (Competed – SMD) 51-622 Mbps SMD - Competed instrument

  4. The dust environment • 2 dust sources: • Electrostatic lofting near the terminator region • Secondary ejecta from micrometeoroid bombardment Lofted dust Detectable single impact events The expected dust density at 50 km altitude as a function of dust size (M. Horanyi) Impact ejecta

  5. LDEX: operation principle Detectors: - target charge sensitive amp (e-) - Microchannel plate (ions) Integrated charge from particle <0.25 micron Impact ionization Q/m ≈ 2 C/kg (3,000 e- for r = 0.25 micron)

  6. LDEX: Ion optics design Dust Target A Gnd Dust Ion Paths -1600 V Grid MCP -1100 V -1100 V Plate Dust Hemi Grid -200 V

  7. Lunar Trajectory Use of Phasing Loops compensates for dispersions from Minotaur V

  8. UV environment LADEE orbit UV reflection from Moon Low UV backgrnd. No science • UV from the sun is prohibitive for science • UC reflected from the Moon drives: • Instrument geometry • Materials used • Finishes and coatings

  9. Summary and conclusions • LDEX is on schedule for a lunch on Friday 5/25/2012 • Calibration at both in Heidelberg and CCLDAS

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