月球阿波罗盆地区域月壳结构及光谱特征

位于月球南极–艾肯(South Pole-Aitken Basin,SPA)盆地内的前酒海纪阿波罗盆地跨越了SPA盆地的瞬时穴和盆缘。SPA盆地是已确认的月球上最大最古老的撞击盆地,因此阿波罗盆地对于认识月球的内部结构和成分、区域地质作用和演化历史具有不可替代的作用。阿波罗盆地区域月壳具有很强的不对称性,靠近SPA盆缘处厚而靠近SPA盆地中心处薄,其峰环内部拥有最薄的月壳厚度。阿波罗盆地区域具有不同的光谱吸收特征。在阿波罗盆地外,靠近SPA盆缘具有更多Mg辉石吸收特征的短波吸收,而靠近SPA中心区域具有更多高Ca辉石吸收特征的长波吸收。盆地内部不同地质单元的光谱吸收特征也有差异,月海为高Ca辉石的吸收特征,峰环为Mg辉石的短波长吸收。阿波罗盆地具有最薄的月壳厚度、高程差达8 km的地层剖面、位于月球背面SPA盆地内的月海、发育充分的中央峰环,其独特性使它成为最有价值的采样点。     

First-order feasibility analysis of a space suit radiator concept based on estimation of water mass sublimation using Apollo mission data

Thermal control of a space suit during extravehicular activity (EVA) is typically accomplished by sublimating water to provide system cooling. Spacecraft, on the other hand, primarily rely on radiators to dissipate heat. Integrating a radiator into a space suit has been proposed as an alternative design that does not require mass consumption for heat transfer. While providing cooling without water loss offers potential benefits for EVA application, it is not currently practical to rely on a directional, fixed-emissivity radiator to maintain thermal equilibrium of a spacesuit where the radiator orientation, environmental temperature, and crew member metabolic heat load fluctuate unpredictably. One approach that might make this feasible, however, is the use of electrochromic devices that are capable of infrared emissivity modulation and can be actively controlled across the entire suit surface to regulate net heat flux for the system. Integrating these devices onto the irregular, compliant space suit material requires that they be fabricated on a flexible substrate, such as Kapton film. An initial assessment of whether or not this candidate technology presents a feasible design option was conducted by first characterizing the mass of water loss from sublimation that could theoretically be saved if an electrochromic suit radiator was employed for thermal control. This is particularly important for lunar surface exploration, where the expense of transporting water from Earth is excessive, but the technology is potentially beneficial for other space missions as well. In order to define a baseline for this analysis by comparison to actual data, historical documents from the Apollo missions were mined for comprehensive, detailed metabolic data from each lunar surface outing, and related data from NASA’s more recent “Advanced Lunar Walkback” tests were also analyzed. This metabolic database was then used to validate estimates for sublimator water consumption during surface EVAs, and solar elevation angles were added to predict the performance of an electrochromic space suit radiator under Apollo conditions. Then, using these actual data sets, the hypothetical water mass savings that would be expected had this technology been employed were calculated. The results indicate that electrochromic suit radiators would have reduced sublimator water consumption by 69.0% across the entire Apollo program, for a total mass savings of 68.5 kg to the lunar surface. Further analysis is needed to determine the net impact as a function of the complete system, taking into account both suit components and consumable mass, but the water mass reduction found in this study suggests a favorable system trade is likely.