Extensive Lunar Surface Disturbance at the Chang'e‐5 Mission Landing Site: Implications for Future Lunar Base Design and Construction

Author:

Qiao Le12ORCID,Hess Marcel3ORCID,Xu Luyuan24ORCID,Wöhler Christian3,Head James W.5ORCID,Chen Jian1ORCID,Wang Yiran6,Bugiolacchi Roberto24ORCID,Xiao Ayang1,Zhang Feng7ORCID,Ling Zongcheng1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Shandong Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar‐Terrestrial Environment School of Space Science and Physics Institute of Space Sciences Shandong University Weihai China

2. State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences Macau University of Science and Technology Macau China

3. Image Analysis Group TU Dortmund University Dortmund Germany

4. Macau Center for Space Exploration and Science CNSA Macau China

5. Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Brown University Providence RI USA

6. Department of Earth and Space Sciences Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen China

7. State Key Laboratory of Space Weather National Space Science Center Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China

Abstract

AbstractLunar surface disturbances by spacecraft engine jets are of particular concern in the current new phase of lunar exploration, when dozens of landing missions and permanent bases are being planned. Some of these exploration efforts will involve multiple landings and liftoffs around the same lunar site; thus, it is essential to evaluate their effect on astronauts and assets on the lunar surface. Here, we assess the surface disturbances during the Chang'e‐5 landing and liftoff procedures through the photometric analysis of high‐resolution multi‐temporal surface and orbital images. Centimeter‐scale surface images reveal a four‐stage evolution of the landing plume impingement over a period of ∼50 s, which involves phenomena such as dust devils and streaks, and displacement of cobbles. Temporal‐ratio calculation of orbital images (including one acquired between landing and liftoff) enables the first direct observation of ascent plume effects. The ascent blast zone consists of two separated sub‐areas (∼3,400 m2 in total), which is nearly twice larger than that of the landing blast zone. The final disturbed surface is characterized by a central main zone (∼2,300 m2) surrounded by a marginal diffuse zone (∼15,300 m2). Phase‐ratio analyses suggest that plume impingement destroys the micro‐porous structure of the uppermost regolith. We estimate that future lunar landers (e.g., SpaceX's Starship) may cause significant lunar surface disturbances over an area of square kilometers. Our results provide unique insights into Chang'e‐5 mission activities, and instructive references for the planning of future lunar endeavors, including the design and construction of surface experiment packages and permanent lunar bases.

Funder

National Natural Science Foundation of China

National Key Research and Development Program of China

Publisher

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Subject

Space and Planetary Science,Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous),Geochemistry and Petrology,Geophysics

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1. Autonomous construction of lunar infrastructure with in-situ boulders;Frontiers in Space Technologies;2024-06-06

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3. The lunar dust environment: concerns for Moon-based astronomy;Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences;2024-03-25

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