Requirements for gravity measurements on the anticipated Artemis III mission

TL;DR

This paper outlines the specific measurement requirements for gravity measurements on the Artemis III lunar mission, considering factors like location, terrain, elevation accuracy, and instrument drift.

Contribution

It provides a detailed reasoning framework for defining gravity measurement requirements tailored to lunar surface conditions for Artemis III.

Findings

Measurement requirements depend on geographic and terrain factors.

Elevation accuracy and instrument drift significantly influence measurement precision.

Framework aids in designing suitable gravity measurement strategies for lunar missions.

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to demonstrate the reasoning behind the specific measurement requirements in the white paper by James et al. titled "The value of surface-based gravity and gravity gradient measurements at the Moon's south pole with Artemis III". As described in this document, measurement requirements in practice will depend on a number of factors, including the geographic location, the shape of the local terrain, the precision to which elevation is known, and the nature of drift in the gravimeter.