RadioLuna: A Penetrometer Deployed Network For Lunar Radio Science Below 2 MHz
T. Marshall Eubanks, W. P. Blase

TL;DR
RadioLuna proposes deploying a lunar radio interferometric array using penetrometers in permanently shadowed regions to explore the low-frequency lunar radio environment and enable novel radio astronomy observations.
Contribution
It introduces a novel low-mass, deployable interferometric array concept for lunar radio science in shielded polar regions, advancing lunar radio environment understanding.
Findings
Potential to discover new lunar radio phenomena
Enhanced lunar radio environment mapping
Improved lunar communication techniques
Abstract
The radio environment of the Moon at low frequencies, particularly in lunar polar regions and the permanently shadowed regions (PSR) found there, is relatively poorly explored and may contain some novel features. In addition, these areas of the Moon, shielded from the natural and artificial emissions of the Earth, and the natural radio emissions of the Sun and the other planets, are near-ideal locations for radio astronomy observations in the last unexplored region of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum. We are developing a low-mass RadioLuna radio science precursor mission to deploy an interferometric array on the lunar surface using Space Initiatives "Mote" penetrometers. The current RadioLuna default mission would be an array of 10 - 12 penetrators deployed on the floor of Shackleton crater in the PSR 4 km below the crater rim, where it would be shielded from all terrestial, solar…
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Taxonomy
TopicsRadio Astronomy Observations and Technology · Planetary Science and Exploration · Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
