LUMIO: A CubeSat for observing and characterizing micro-meteoroid impacts on the Lunar far side

The Earth-Moon system is constantly bombarded by meteoroids of different size and impact speed. Observation of the impacts on the Moon can enable thorough characterization of the Lunar meteoroid flux, which is similar to that of the Earth. While Earth-based Lunar observations are restricted by weath...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta astronautica 2022-06, Vol.195, p.309-317
Main Authors: Cervone, A., Topputo, F., Speretta, S., Menicucci, A., Turan, E., Di Lizia, P., Massari, M., Franzese, V., Giordano, C., Merisio, G., Labate, D., Pilato, G., Costa, E., Bertels, E., Thorvaldsen, A., Kukharenka, A., Vennekens, J., Walker, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actuators
Autonomous navigation
Background noise
Cubesat
Design
Earth
Earth-Moon system
ESA SysNova challenge
Feasibility studies
Impact velocity
Interplanetary CubeSat missions
Intersatellite communications
Lagrangian equilibrium points
LUMIO
Lunar far side
Lunar orbits
Lunar Situational Awareness
Meteoroid impacts
Meteoroids
Meteors & meteorites
Moon
Optical instruments
Optical observations
Propulsion systems
Redundancy
Satellite communications
Satellites
Spacecraft
Spacecraft design
Visible spectrum
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Summary:The Earth-Moon system is constantly bombarded by meteoroids of different size and impact speed. Observation of the impacts on the Moon can enable thorough characterization of the Lunar meteoroid flux, which is similar to that of the Earth. While Earth-based Lunar observations are restricted by weather, geometric and illumination conditions, a Lunar-based observation campaign can improve the detection rate and, when observing the Lunar far side, complement in both space and time the observations taken from Earth. The Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer (LUMIO), one of the two winning concepts of the ESA SysNova Lunar CubeSats for Exploration challenge, is a mission designed to observe, quantify, and characterize the micro-meteoroid impacts on the Lunar far side. It is based on a 12U CubeSat that carries the LUMIO-Cam, a custom-designed optical instrument capable of detecting light flashes in the visible spectrum. The spacecraft is placed on a halo orbit about the Earth–Moon L2 point, where permanent full-disk observation of the Lunar far side can be performed with excellent quality, given the absence of Earth background noise. After passing Phase 0 and an independent feasibility study in the ESA Concurrent Design Facility, the mission has successfully completed its Phase A in March 2021. Although the Phase 0 design of the LUMIO spacecraft was assessed as feasible by the ESA CDF study, a number of critical issues were identified, which have been tackled by the Phase A design. The paper presents the outcome of this Phase A design effort for the LUMIO spacecraft. Particularly relevant changes or updates in the spacecraft design include: a consolidated design of the LUMIO-Cam, with longer baffle for straylight protection; a set of ADCS sensors and actuators with increased redundancy; a combination of Direct-to-Earth communication and inter-satellite link with a mothership in Lunar orbit; use of Earth ranging to complement and validate the current innovative autonomous navigation strategy based on optical observations of the Moon by means of the LUMIO-Cam; re-assessment of the COTS components selection for the power and propulsion systems. •Description of the LUMIO mission and its scientific relevance.•Evolution of the LUMIO spacecraft design from pre-Phase 0 to Phase A.•Detailed description of the current design choices for all sub-systems of the LUMIO spacecraft.•Complete, detailed mass budget of the LUMIO spacecraft.
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.03.032