Jennifer Heldmann

1
LCROSS Astronomer Workshop
Jennifer Heldmann LCROSS Observation Campaign
Coordinator NASA Ames Research Center
February 29, 2008
2
LCROSS Astronomer Workshop Support
Special thanks to the Science Mission Directorate
at NASA Headquarters (especially Jim Green
Kelly Snook) for funding the travel
grants. Thanks also to the Lunar and Planetary
Institute (LPI) for providing logistical support
for the Workshop. Supported also by NASAs
Exploration Mission Directorate (ESMD), Lunar
Precursor Robotic Program (LPRP), and LCROSS
Project.
3
LCROSS Video
4
Wireless Access
Username and password provided for each person --
located inside your badge.
5
Agenda
830 a.m. Registration 900 a.m. Observation
Campaign Overview J. Heldmann (Observing
Campaign Coordinator) 930 a.m. LCROSS Science
and Exploration Objectives T. Colaprete (LCROSS
PI) 1000 a.m. S-S/C Instruments and
Measurements K. Ennico (Payload Lead) 1030
a.m. Site Selection Update T. Colaprete
(LCROSS PI) 1100 a.m. LCROSS Mission Design
and Observation Campaign Constraints K. Galal
(Orbital Dynamics) 1145 a.m. Selene / KAGUYA
Overview and Results Shin-ichi Sobue
(JAXA) 1145 a.m. Discussion 1200 noon
Lunch 130 p.m. CFHT Observations of SMART-1
Impact C. Veillet (CFHT Director) 200 p.m.
Archiving Observatory Data in the PDS Susan
Slavney and Ed Guinness (NASA Planetary Data
System) 230 p.m. Observation Challenges and
Strategies D. Wooden (Astronomer) 300 p.m.
Telescope Capabilities and/or Working Groups
(proposal writing)
6
LCROSS Observation Campaign

• Expansion of Plume
• Thermal Evolution
• H2O ice sublimation
• Photo-production of OH

• Bright Impact Flash
• Thermal OH Production
• Rapid Thermal Evolution

• Residual Thermal Blanket
• Expanding OH Exosphere

The combination of ground-based, orbital and
in-situ platforms span the necessary temporal and
spatial scales from sec/meters to hours/km
The LCROSS mission has multiple layers of
observing
7
LCROSS Goals

• The LCROSS mission goals
• Confirm the presence or absence of water ice in a
  permanently shadowed region on the Moon
• Identify the form/state of hydrogen observed by
  at the lunar poles
• Quantify, if present, the amount of water in the
  lunar regolith, with respect to hydrogen
  concentrations
• Characterize the lunar regolith within a
  permanently shadowed crater on the Moon

8
Worldwide Observing Campaign
Worldwide observation campaign -- building on the
experience of Deep Impact
Lunar, Earth-orbiting , and Ground-based Assets
9
Observational Platforms

• LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft
• Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
• International lunar missions
• Earth-orbital assets
• Ground-based telescopes

10
Observing Opportunities
Observations during 1) lunar swing-by and 2)
LCROSS impacts.
Opportunity to cross-calibrate instruments, also
test communications during mission between LCROSS
Science Operations Center and observing
Astronomers.
11
Communications
Observation Campaign Coordinator (Heldmann) will
be in direct communication with Astronomers from
the Science Operations Center (SOC) during lunar
swing-by and LCROSS impacts.

• Preferred method of comm?
• Email?
• Phone?
• Online chat?
• Other?

Astronomers
12
Astronomer Support
NASA recognizes that Astronomers must be
compensated (funded) for time, travel, etc. to
ensure optimal planning of observations,
acquisition of data, analysis of data, and
delivery of results (to NASA, scientific
community, public, etc).
13
Astronomer Support
NASA recognizes that astronomers must be
compensated (funded) for time, travel, etc. to
ensure optimal planning of observations,
acquisition of data, analysis of data, and
delivery of results (to NASA, scientific
community, public, etc).
Solution Selection of qualified observers who
are eligible to receive direct support for
observations in support of the Lunar CRater
Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) lunar
swingby calibration and LCROSS impact, and
support of subsequent data analysis and delivery
to the Planetary Data System (PDS).
14
Identification of Qualified Observers
Astronomer must have successfully secured
observing time on a professional telescope (and
notified NASA) by December 2008 to observe the
LCROSS impacts (Feb 2009). Observations must
be relevant to LCROSS and NASA lunar goals (ESMD
SMD). In particular the observations should
address those goals identified in the LCROSS
Science Plan and those others relevant to Lunar
Science as identified by the Lunar Exploration
Analysis Group (LEAG). Astronomer must agree
to open sharing of data within the LCROSS Science
Team and other Astronomers included in the
"umbrella" proposal as soon as data is collected
and throughout the 3-month data analysis period
after impact (Feb-April 2009). Astronomer must
provide completed analysis to LCROSS Project by
April 2009 (in time for inclusion in final LCROSS
Report to NASA HQ). Astronomer must follow
established PDS guidelines and deliver their
dataset to the PDS by July 2009. Astronomer
must work for a U.S. institution in order to be
eligible to receive funds. International
partners may participate on the team (assuming
they meet the other above requirements) on a
non-funded basis.
15
Funding Logistics
Upon successfully securing observing time,
astronomers may submit a funding proposal.
Proposals will undergo screening to ensure they
meet the qualification and selection criteria
(TBD). Selected proposals will receive funds
after a data analysis reported is accepted.
16
Two Stages of Funding
1. Pre-Impact Observational Support Pre-impact
observational support provided to
Astronomers. 2. Data Analysis Support Post-impac
t data analysis and PDS delivery support to
Astronomers.
17
Notional Timeline
18
A few notes .
This LCROSS Observation Campaign funding for
astronomers is above and beyond the typical ROSES
funding programs. Astronomers are not
precluded for applying for additional funding
through ROSES.
19
Questions
Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite