Assessing the Present-Day Impact Flux to the Lunar Surface Via Impact Flash Monitoring and Its Implications for Sustained Lunar Exploration

Joshua Cahill,Emerson J Speyerer,Ingrid Daubar,Ryan Watkins,Angela Stickle,Emily Costello,Robert Suggs,Benjamin Greenhagen,Renee Weber,Debra Hurwitz Needham,Raven Larson,Daniel Moriarty

doi:10.3847/25c2cfeb.68db91c2

Abstract

Whitepaper #200 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: planetary defense; Mercury and/or the Moon; solar system formation, dynamics processes, and chronology

Highlights

The sudden flashes of light generated by meteoroid impacts of the lunar surface are evidence that the lunar surface is not static, but extraordinarily more dynamic than appreciated (Figure 1)
The luminous energy of an impact flash yields valuable information to constrain the size ranges of meteoroids difficult to observe with other means [7]
Temporal pair surveys [8, 17] have helped identify over 120,000 new splotches on the lunar surface that have formed in the last decade

Summary

Introduction

The sudden flashes of light generated by meteoroid impacts of the lunar surface are evidence that the lunar surface is not static, but extraordinarily more dynamic than appreciated (Figure 1). It has become more apparent that the culmination of impact bombardment from microscopic to kilometer-sized objects over time, or the impact flux, may be more poorly constrained for the Moon and the rest of the Solar System than previously appreciated [8] This is because there is only so much we can observe and detect from Earth since our atmosphere obscures much of the information from smaller impactors, and our interpretation of orbital data rests on historical and incomplete temporal observations. Present day impact bombardment (primary and secondary, large to microscopic) and its flux is a potential hazard for planetary exploration and must be sufficiently assessed (Ghent and Zellner [9] stress the need for additional methods and opportunities for measurement as well) Improved collection of this knowledge is crucial as robotic and, more importantly, human exploration on the lunar surface is planned to re-start and accelerate with the advent of NASA’s Artemis Program. As humans return to the Moon to stay, methods of hazard assessment/monitoring for planning, adaptation, and mitigation (when necessary) should be formulated and continually refined

Present State of Knowledge

Relevance to Multiple Community Objectives

Recommended Orbital Instrument Payloads

Lunar Surface Based Impact Flux Observations

Utilization of Planetary Defense Infrastructure for Lunar Activities

Findings and Recommendations