This session deals with the complex activity for identification of the most promising sites on lunar surface for future human settlement, taking into account the scenarios, concepts and operations necessary for robotic reconnaissance, initial human exploration and the eventual long term or permanent presence of humans on the Moon, including the scientific value of the locations.
A major challenge will be the preliminary characterization of the areas in the most promising regions. Thanks to LRO and other recent missions, a large amount of data is already available for scientific analyses, but more specific information must be collected, by means of robotic or human precursor missions. In particular, environmental, geological and engineering assessments of the sites will provide basic information for accessibility, installment methods of bases or outposts and mobility, while the surface composition analysis will support the ISRU implementation. A relevant factor is the sustainability of the infrastructure, based on the in-situ resources availability, e.g., water, volatiles and regolith. An accurate georeferencing of the sites can be obtained, for example by means of next-generation lunar laser retroreflectors.
Based on operational scenarios, several additional aspects are to be taken into account, including the impact of communication constraints; robotic operations and human-robotic cooperation; dust prevention and mitigation; in situ power generation and resource utilization; procedures and new operational concepts; partial gravity evaluation of Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) tasks; and reliable transportation systems (including cargo) with large mass capability. Possible terrestrial and artificial lunar analogues will play a key role as validation environments in preparing complex systems and operations and evaluating approaches.
Papers along the broad lines of these themes for scientific, engineering and technological aspects are all welcome.