Abstract:
This report is a summary of the group design project of the MSc in Astronautics
and Space Engineering at Cranfield University for the year 1996/97. The project
was a feasibility study of a European unmanned mission to the lunar south pole
to carry out scientific study. The mission proposed uses two spacecraft: (1) an
orbiter to take images of the proposed landing site, to measure the Moon’s
gravitational field, and to act as a communications relay, and (2) a larger
lander which carries a small rover and a crate probe. The orbiter is launched
first (if gravity and image data are not already available) so that the lander’s
landing site can be selected. The main goal is scientific study of the
permanently dark craters at the lunar south pole. The baseline design (developed
to the depth of a feasibility study) meets the stated requirements and is
comparable to ESA’s medium class missions (cost ~€
