Lunar Volatiles and Mineralogy Mapper (LVMM) Payload for the Lunar Volatile and Mineralogy Mapping Orbiter (VMMO)

The Lunar Volatile and Mineralogy Mapping Orbiter (VMMO) comprises a low-cost 12U Cubesat with deployable solar arrays, X-Band/UHF communications, option of electric or chemical propulsion, the Lunar Volatiles and Mineralogy Mapper (LVMM) payload, and an optional GPS receiver technology demonstrator. The LVMM facilitates three operational modes: Active mode using illumination of the lunar surface at 532nm, 1064nm and 1560nm to enable volatiles mapping during the lunar night and within Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs); Passive mode during the lunar day with spectral channels at 300nm, 532nm, 690nm, 1064nm and 1560nm for mapping lunar surficial ilmenite (FeTiO3); and a Communications mode for an optical data downlink demonstration at 1560nm. Previous lunar missions have detected the presence of water-ice in the lunar South Pole region. However, there is considerable uncertainty with regards to its distribution within and across the lunar surface. A number of planned future missions will further map water ice deposits, but the spatial resolution of these observations is expected to be on the order of kilometers. The LVMM using single-mode fiber lasers can improve the special resolution of the mapping to 10s of meters. VMMO has completed the Phase A study with ESA. This paper discusses the baseline LVMM payload design and its dual-use applications for both the stand-off mapping of lunar volatiles and a high-speed optical data link demonstration. In particular, the supporting fiber-laser technology readiness was advanced through ground qualification.

Automated summary

The Lunar Volatile and Mineralogy Mapping Orbiter (VMMO) is a low-cost 12U Cubesat that consists of various components, including a Lunar Volatiles and Mineralogy Mapper (LVMM) payload, solar arrays, communications systems, and optional GPS receiver technology. The LVMM payload enables active and passive modes for mapping lunar volatiles and surface ilmenite, as well as a communications mode for optical data downlink demonstration. The VMMO project has completed the Phase A study with ESA and focuses on improving the spatial resolution of lunar mapping using fiber lasers.