Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “South Pole”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2010

South Pole Hydrogen Distribution for Present Lunar Conditions: Implications for Past Impacts

It has been known since the Lunar Prospector mission that the poles of the Moon evidently harbor enhanced concentrations of hydrogen [1,2]. The physical and chemical form of the hydrogen has been much debated. Using imagery from Clementine it was possible to roughly estimate permanently-shadowed regions (PSRs), and to perform image reconstructions of the Lunar Prospector epithermal neutron flux maps [3,4]. The hydrogen concentrations resulting from these reconstructions were consistent with a few weight percent water ice in selected locations. With the LCROSS impact, we now know that hydrogen in the form of ice does exist in lunar polar cold traps [5]. Armed with this information, and new data from LRO/Diviner, we can examine whether the pre-sent-day distribution of hydrogen in the form of water ice is consistent with a past large impact that delivered a large mass of volatiles to the lunar surface. These volatiles, mixed with solid impact ejecta, would then be lost from locations having high mean temperatures but would otherwise remain trapped in locations with sufficiently low mean annual temperatures [6]. The time scales for loss would depend on the location-dependent temperatures as well as impact history.

Elphic, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Mars Atmospheric CO2 Condensation Above the North and South Poles as Revealed by Radio Occultation, Climate Sounder, and Laser Ranging Observations

We study the condensation of CO2 in Mars atmosphere using temperature profilesretrieved from radio occultation measurements from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) as wellas the climate sounding instrument onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO),and detection of reflective clouds by the MGS Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA). Wefind 11 events in 1999 where MGS temperature profiles indicate CO2 condensation andMOLA simultaneously detects reflective clouds. We thus provide causal evidence thatMOLA non-ground returns are associated with CO2 condensation, which strongly indicatestheir nature being CO2 clouds. The MGS and MRO temperature profiles together revealthe seasonal expansion and shrinking of the area and the vertical extent of atmosphericsaturation. The occurrence rate of atmospheric saturation is maximized at high latitudes inthe middle of winter. The atmospheric saturation in the northern polar region exhibits moreintense seasonal variation than in the southern polar region. In particular, a shrinking ofsaturation area and thickness from LS 270 to 300 in 2007 is found; this is probablyrelated to a planet-encircling dust storm. Furthermore, we integrate the condensation areaand the condensation occurrence rate to estimate cumulative masses of CO2 condensatesdeposited onto the northern and southern seasonal polar caps. The precipitation flux isapproximated by the particle settling flux which is estimated using the impulse responses ofMOLA filter channels. With our approach, the total atmospheric condensation mass canbe estimated from these observational data sets with average particle size as the onlyfree parameter. By comparison with the seasonal polar cap masses inferred from thetime-varying gravity of Mars, our estimates indicate that the average condensate particleradius is 822 mm in the northern hemisphere and 413 mm in the southern hemisphere.Our multi-instrument data analysis provides new constraints on modeling the global climateof Mars.

MOLA↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dust Mitigation: Impacts & Opportunities for Science on the Lunar South Pole

Lunar dust will be a feature of all lunar surface science investigations, whether welcome or not. While lunar dust may pose problems for some investigations, it is also the subject of many critical scientific discoveries made since the Apollo days. Dust mitigation, or learning how to work with and around the inevitable dust we will encounter on the surface, is not a new concept. However, new initiatives throughout NASA are underway in an effort to tackle dust mitigation strategically for the Artemis program. Dust mitigation efforts and technologies will enable successful lunar surface science investigations.

lunar dust↗
NASA NTRS2020

Lunar Lettuce Production During Artemis III Mission to the Moon's South Pole

The Artemis Science Plan identified that the infrastructure and resources associated during a human/robotic exploration mission can be used to conduct fundamental lunar science needed to mitigate the risks of human exploration of surface systems (i.e. Mars and the Moon). In particular, studying the response of life to the combination of fractional gravity and deep space radiation of the Moon is needed to mitigate the HEOMD risks to the crew that result from inadequate diets. Essential nutrients and vitamins available to astronauts have been shown to degrade within the stored food system during long duration missions. Other risks to exploration missions were isolation and confinement, distance from the Earth, radiation and partial gravity.

O. Monje↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Dynamic Power Generation for Human and Scientific Exploration of the Lunar South Pole

Many NASA missions visit some of the harshest, darkest, coldest locations in the solar system and would not be possible, or would be extremely limited, without the use of nuclear power. Radioisotope Power Systems, or RPS, harness the heat of the natural decay of plutonium-238, to produce continuous electric power for operating spacecraft systems and science instruments. Radioisotope power has provided this “Power to Explore” for the past 60 years.

DRPS↗