Impact Of Lunar Terrain On Moon-Based Earth Observation

Abstract

There is increasing concern about the new potential platform for Earth observation - the Moon-based Earth observation platform. The Moon-based platform has the advantages of large-scale, constant and long-term dynamic Earth observations, when compared with the space-borne and airborne platforms. Some scholars have presented ideas for the construction of Moon-based Earth observation, however, most of them ignored the impact caused by lunar terrain. In this paper, we propose a Moon-based Earth observation intervisibility algorithm, based on the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) data. Then we apply the algorithm to the Sinus Iridum area and the Mare Nectaris area and analyze the inter-visibility conditions of the two areas. This intervisibility algorithm will give support to the site selection of future Moon-based Earth observation system or lunar exploration missions.