Abstract
The design of the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) experiment is presented, which was optimized to address several of the primary measurement requirements of NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO): high spatial resolution hydrogen mapping of the Moon’s upper-most surface, identification of putative deposits of appreciable near-surface water ice in the Moon’s polar cold traps, and characterization of the human-relevant space radiation environment in lunar orbit. A comprehensive program of LEND instrument physical calibrations is discussed and the baseline scenario of LEND observations from the primary LRO lunar orbit is presented. LEND data products will be useful for determining the next stages of the emerging global lunar exploration program, and they will facilitate the study of the physics of hydrogen implantation and diffusion in the regolith, test the presence of water ice deposits in lunar cold polar traps, and investigate the role of neutrons within the radiation environment of the shallow lunar surface.
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Abbreviations
- AC:
-
Anti-coincidence
- ACS:
-
Anti-coincidence system
- CSEN 1–4:
-
Collimated sensor of epithermal neutrons 1–4
- DB:
-
Data base
- DSA:
-
Deep space antenna
- eV:
-
Electron-volt
- FPGA:
-
Field programmable gate array
- FOV:
-
Field of view
- FRE:
-
Front-end/read-out electronics
- FRE&S:
-
Front-end/read-out electronics and selection
- FU:
-
Flight unit
- FWHM:
-
Full width half maximum
- GSFC:
-
Goddard space flight center
- HV:
-
High voltage
- HVP:
-
High voltage provision
- IKI:
-
Russian acronym for institute for space research
- LCROSS:
-
Lunar crater observation and sensing satellite
- LEND:
-
Lunar exploration neutron detector
- LND:
-
Name of manufactory of neutron sensors
- LOLA:
-
Lunar orbiter laser altimeter
- LRO:
-
Lunar reconnaissance orbiter
- LVP:
-
Low voltage provision
- MeV:
-
Mega electron-volt
- MC:
-
Module of collimation
- MHz:
-
Mega-hertz
- MLI:
-
Multi-layer isolation
- MOC:
-
Mission operation center
- MSE:
-
Module of sensors and electronics
- OSR:
-
Optical solar reflector
- PDS:
-
Planetary data system
- PMT:
-
Photo-multiplier tube
- ppm:
-
Particles per million
- PPS:
-
Pulse per second
- RAM:
-
Random access memory
- RTAX:
-
Radiation tolerant model of Actel FPGA
- S/C:
-
Spacecraft
- SHEN:
-
Sensor of high energy neutrons
- SETN:
-
Sensor of epithermal neutrons
- SOC:
-
Science operation center
- STD:
-
Standard
- STN 1–3:
-
Sensor of thermal neutrons 1–3
- SPE:
-
Solar particle events
- TCS:
-
Thermal control system
- UMD:
-
University of Maryland
- UofA:
-
University of Arizona
- QU:
-
Qualification unit
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Mitrofanov, I.G., Bartels, A., Bobrovnitsky, Y.I. et al. Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector for the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Space Sci Rev 150, 183–207 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-009-9608-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-009-9608-4