European Space Agency (THIS) has identified lunar mapping as a key task for the safe landing of its future Argonaut heavy lander. For this, the agency plans to involve smaller satellite missions, which are currently under development, to create a detailed base of topographical data, especially for the south pole of the Moon.
Argonaut needs its own map of the Moon to ensure a precise landing. The main purpose of mapping – to reduce the risks of descent of the apparatus, which should sit on the surface completely autonomously.
Improved accuracy: For the first mission, the planned landing accuracy is up to 250 meters, and already by the third flight they want to improve this indicator to 50 meters. The South Pole of the Moon has an extreme landscape with deep craters and long shadows, which requires ultra-high resolution maps to avoid catastrophic collisions with boulders or slopes.
ESA Director of Unmanned and Robotic Research Daniel Neuenschwander noted, that mapping is integrated as a key objective in new small lunar probe programs. Now several European projects compete with each other, but at least two of them will be focused specifically on the collection of cartographic data of the South Pole.
Currently there are high-precision maps from NASA (LRO orbiter with detail to 0,5 m/pixel) and India (Chandrayaan-2 with resolution 0,25 m/pixel), however, its own satellite base will provide Europe with technological independence.
The lunar lander Argonaut is capable of delivering up to 1500 kg of cargo (scientific instruments, moonwalkers, provisions for astronauts of the Artemis program). The first mission is scheduled for the end 2030 year using the Ariane launch vehicle 6. Subsequent launches are expected every 2-3 years. The main contractor for Argonaut development is a consortium led by Thales Alenia Space Italy.
Source: https://spacenews.com