Space Apps Challenge 2018

..Mission to the Moon..

The aim of the project is to launch a rover to the moon in an area in which we can study so much.

This can be done by the following scenario:

• The landing site is determined through various concerns like the ability of the rover to land on a smooth surface without crashing, the ability for the rover to travel safely on the moon and the complexity of the geology in the area to be studied.
• The rocket’s trajectory is determined by celestial mechanics and rocket’s mechanics.
• The rocket is launched from Earth, putting in concern the launching site’s consequences like the explosion, the payload.. etc.
• The spacecraft meets the moon’s territory.
• The rover lands on the moon by VTVL method or “Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing” in the middle of Sinus Iridum area.
• The rover starts to search the area with photographs and samples from the surface.
• The ease of landing on the surface by choosing a smooth surface.
• The ability of the rover to travel safety on the surface.
• The amount of data that can be collected from the landing site.
• The complexity of the topographic features and geologic history in the area to be able to collect much data about the area in samples and images.
• It is in the North Pole area that has glacials. Thus, water.
• The area is exposed to the sun light that can be used to move the rover as it takes the energy from the solar cells.
• The epithermal activity is moderate so that it won’t affect the rover and harm it.

The landing site determination was based on:

So, the Sinus Iridum area was chosen as it had two impacts, four magmatic activities and a tectonic activity. Also, the impact is an evidence of possible water in the column that we may find during drilling and sampling based on the theory that meteorites are a source of water.

For knowing the Geologic history, the complex topography can be studied. Also, the drilling methods is useful for determining the succession in the ground. And, it can reach layers which are not are not affected by cosmic rays for more accurate measurements.

The idea of sampling is taken from Mars’ rover “Curiosity”. The idea of the sampling is the driller that cut a sample through the ground and pass the sample to the analysis system by “CHIMRA” or Collection and Handling for In-Situ Martian Rock Analysis.

The analysis system, as whole, is composed of multiple spectrometers:

• Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction (CheMin).
• Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite.
• Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS).
• Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam).

Some References

- https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/341/curiosity-te...

- http://www.planetary.org/explore/projects/planetar...

- https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/instruments/spec...

- https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/meteorites-brou...

- https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/instruments/

- Nasa Data