Lunar Outpost: Suitability AnalysisStephen Ibanez GIS 351 Spring 2014

University of Mary Washington

INTRODUCTION

Lunar outpost was an element of the G.W.Bush space policy, now since adapted by Barack Obama’s policy. Influenced by the recent CNSA Yutu rover, lunar outpost will be chosen within the Sinus Iridum and the basis of placement is proximity to mineral deposits, with which the Maria and surrounding mountains are rife. This is a rudimentary template from which a user can derive suitable landing, construction, and operational areas for the colonization of the lunar surface.

METHODOLOGY

The study solely involves two types of data. Lunar digital elevation model and remote spectrometry data, Parts per million measurements .FILES are AS FOLLOWED

LDEM_128.JP2LP_H_ASLP_URANIUMLP_THORIUM

1. )Deriving Values of Slope from DEM, slope is derived in degrees and then the file is clipped by study area extent, reclassified into two fields, suitable and non-suitable, this layer is then used in the weighted analysis of 2.)a Process 1 and Process 2

2.) Uranium, Thorium, Hydrogen from excel.Process 1,

To produce Suitable Zone 1, elemental abundance tables are modified into layers by Make XY Event, elemental abundance files are interpolated by Inverse distance weighted tool. Repeat reclassification by suitability produces two classes of elemental abundance. Subsequesnt usage of Majority Filter ,1, condenses the zone.Conditional = 2, conditional evaluation removes the less suitable reclassified value of 1.Highest value is more suitable.

Process 2

To produce Suitable Zone 2, XY event elemental abundance files are converted from point to raster. Euclidean distance is run to derive distances from mineral deposits . Repeat reclassification by suitability produces two classes of distance suitability. Subsequesnt usage of Majority Filter ,2, condenses the zone.Conditional = 1, conditional evaluation removes the less suitable reclassified value of 2..Lowest value is more suitable.

3.) Aggregating Process 1 and Process 2

Process 1 is reclassified to inverse the suitability to make the lower value more suitable. Using Clipping by extent derives the overlapping values.Cell statistics then derives the count of each overlapping cell. Majority Filter refines the target area. Conditional = 2 removes the lower value, as the higher value indicates higher cells of convergence. Majority Filter then further refines the area.

4.) Final Suitable Zone

Raster To Polygon creates a polygon of the suitability raster, mostly to be able to calculate area Calculate Areas is usedProjected to sinusoidal projection. Decimal Degrees to Meters (1.00).Manually convert Shape_Area from m2 to km2

RESULTS

The model builder, sum of all parts, yields a combined suitability zone within the study area. The Suitability Polygon, aggregate of process 1 and process 2, features a Total Area of 156,747 km2. This is an invalid figure, though the slope degree is valid and the area derived is valid, in accordance with weighted analysis, which uses elemental abundance and slope..

UMW LOGOHERE

STUDY AREA

Sinus Iridum ("Bay of Rainbows") is a plain of basaltic lava that forms a northwestern extension to the Mare Imbrium. It is surrounded from the northeast to the southwest by the Montes Jura range.The selenographic coordinates of this bay are 44.1° N, 31.5° W. The feature was given the Latin name for the Bay of Rainbows by Giovanni Riccioli.This area has been of interest to the Chinese space program, CNSA, it is a target area for mining due to heavy levels of elemental abundance.

CONCLUSION

This is flawed data as the projection never properly converted decimal degrees to meters. Essentially the data is flawed and not worthy of practical usage, it is a display of the difficulty in properly projecting the LOLA DEM file. Though the end product, final suitability, presents a viable area, the figures associated with that area are not conclusive and are wholly invalid. Further analysis, of slope and elemental abundance, within the study area could refine and establish more intricate suitability zones. Zones that reflect immediate micro-elements like irregular regolith, which is the layer of sediment on the surface, or fissures. Since the lunar outpost was not a defined size, if given a prospective site area to find best fit, further analysis of layers could define a best fit by prospective sites total area.

The projects goals are partially met, though wholly rudimentary and inherently flawed figures, such work could be a template for proper projection that would pose more value to researchers or lunar planners. If such standards are met, further technicians could refine the zones to include factors such as temperature variance, sunlight exposure, length of lunar night.

REFERENCES

LOLA/LRORS PDS Data Nodehttp://imbrium.mit.edu/USGS Planetary GIS Web Server – PIGWADhttp://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/pigwad/down/moon_dl.htm

NASA Lunar Outpost Proposalhttp://www.nasa.gov/pdf/163896main_LAT_GES_1204.pdf

JAXA 3D JAVA application using Kaguya raster mosaic.http://wms.selene.darts.isas.jaxa.jp/3dmoon_e/index_e.html

Lunar Orbital Data Explorer – PDS Geosciences Nodehttp://ode.rsl.wustl.edu/moon/

LROC Catalog Arizona State Universityhttp://wms.lroc.asu.edu/

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Google EarthGoogle Sketchup,.NASA, LOLA, LRO, JAXA KAGUYA Lunar And Planetary Institute

METHODS. VISUALIZED