Evolving? Unraveling the enigma of the moon’s exosphere

November 11, 2011 – Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is a NASA mission that will orbit the Moon in 2013 and its main objective is to characterize the atmosphere and lunar dust environment. LADEE implements an early priority of the National Research Council’s report, The Scientific Context for the Exploration of the Moon (NRC, 2007), namely to “determine the global density, composition, and time variability of the fragile lunar atmosphere before it is perturbed by further human activity.” LADEE will have a mass about 130 kg. It will be launched on a Minotaur V launch vehicle. In addition to the science objectives, the mission will be testing a new spacecraft architecture called the ‘Modular Common Bus’ — which is being developed by NASA as a flexible, low cost, rapid turnaround spacecraft for both orbiting and landing on the Moon and other deep space targets. It is hoped that such a capability will enable the Agency to perform future science goals for reduced cost. –NASA

MYSTERY OF THE LUNAR IONOSPHERE: How can a world without air have an ionosphere? Somehow the Moon has done it. Lunar researchers have been struggling with this mystery for years, and they may have finally found a solution. –Space Weather