Space plasma physics science opportunities for the lunar orbital platform - Gateway
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway (LOP - Gateway, or simply Gateway) is a crewed platform that will be assembled and operated in the vicinity of the Moon by NASA and international partner organizations, including ESA, starting from the mid-2020s. It will offer new opportunities for fundamental and applied scientific research. The Moon is a unique location to study the deep space plasma environment. Moreover, the lunar surface and the surface-bounded exosphere are interacting with this environment, constituting a complex multi-scale interacting system. This paper examines the opportunities provided by externally mounted payloads on the Gateway in the field of space plasma physics, heliophysics and space weather, and also examines the impact of the space environment on an inhabited platform in the vicinity of the Moon. It then presents the conceptual design of a model payload, required to perform these space plasma measurements and observations. It results that the Gateway is very well-suited for space plasma physics research. It allows a series of scientific objectives with a multi-disciplinary dimension to be addressed.
Date Issued
2023-03-20
Date Acceptance
2023-02-09
Citation
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 2023, 10, pp.1-30
ISSN
2296-987X
Publisher
Frontiers Media S.A.
Start Page
1
End Page
30
Journal / Book Title
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Volume
10
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023 Dandouras, Taylor, De Keyser, Futaana, Bamford, Branduardi-Raymont, Chaufray, Constantinescu, De Angelis, Devoto, Eastwood, Echim, Garnier, Grison, Hercik, Lammer, Laurens, Leblanc, Milillo, Nakamura, Přech, Roussos, Štverák, Forest, Trouche, Hess, Mateo-Vélez, Carpenter and Winter. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2023.1120302
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03-20