Work

Prospectivity Modeling of the NASA VIPER Landing Site at Mons Mouton near the Lunar South Pole

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We use a high-resolution digital elevation model and a numerical thermal model to produce a variety of inputs for a water-ice prospectivity model for the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) landing site. These input data are maps of topography, surface slope, surface aspect, surface curvature, maximum temperature, depth to ice stability, permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), distance to PSRs, and PSR density. This model predicts where water ice is most likely within the top meter of regolith, assuming plausible relationships between ice concentration and the various inputs. The model is designed to be adjusted in near-real time as data are collected during the VIPER mission. As such, it is a tool for both analyzing data from the mission as well as planning operations. Since the current model, at this point, relies only on orbital remote sensing, the final version will also be a tool to extrapolate the VIPER mission results across the lunar poles.

Source: The Planetary Science Journal

DOI: 10.3847/psj/adbc6c

Authors: Joshua Coyan, Matt Siegler, Jose Martinez-Comacho, Ross Beyer, Mark Shirley

Institutions: United States Geological Survey, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Ames Research Center, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Language: English

Topic: Planetary Science and Exploration

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,800

OpenAlex ID: W4410000405

FWCI: 3.184

Cites: 59

Cited by: 7

Related to: 10