Analysis of Lunar Boulder Tracks: Implications for Trafficability of Pyroclastic Deposits
Analysis of Lunar Boulder Tracks: Implications for Trafficability of Pyroclastic Deposits
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DOI：
10.1029/2018je005876
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发表时间：
2019-05-01
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Kring, D. A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Bickel, V. T.;Honniball, C. I.;Kring, D. A.
在月球探测的新时代，火山碎屑矿床已被确定为有价值的资源利用和科学研究目标。人们对这些地区的地质力学性质和地面材料的通达性知之甚少，而这些材料是成功规划和执行任务所必需的。过去与月球车有关的事件突显了可靠的表面属性信息对未来的重要性，特别是机器人登月任务的概念。在月球勘测轨道器窄角相机图像中测量了149个巨石轨道的特征，并用于推算火山碎屑沉积物的承载能力，作为比较，从地表到类似5米深的沼泽和高地地区，作为通行能力的衡量标准。结果与阿波罗、勘测者和月球任务期间现场收集的物理属性数据计算的承载力值进行了比较和补充。对轨道的定性观察显示，不同地区没有差异，进一步表明这些地区的地质力学性质相似。一般情况下，承载力随着深度的增加而增加，随着坡度的增大而减小，与区域类型无关。在0.19到5米的深度，火山碎屑物质的承载能力等于或高于马和高地物质，因此，在地表水平上可能同样具有可交性。根据轨道观测计算的承载能力与使用现场数据得出的值是一致的。承载能力值被用来估计火星车概念在火山碎屑沉积中的车轮下沉。这项研究的发现可用于导线规划、月球车设计和月球资源的就地开采。简而言之，未来的探险者将访问火山碎屑矿床进行研究和资源开采。然而，表面的属性并不为人所知，也不清楚车辆和人类在这些地区的旅行能力有多好。149个巨石轨道的特性在航天器图像中被测量，并被用来得出从地表到类似于5米深的火山碎屑、岩浆和高原地区物质强度的估计。结果与根据以前月球表面飞行任务中进行的现场测量得出的土壤强度估计值进行了比较和补充。在所有感兴趣的区域中，轨迹具有相似的外观，这意味着表面材质具有类似的属性。一般情况下，土体强度随深度增加而增大，随局部坡角增大而减小。在深层，火山碎屑沉积显示出与沼泽和高地地区相同或显著更高的强度，因此，在地表水平上可能同样具有可流性。根据全球分布的航天器图像进行的计算与从阿波罗时代的现场数据得出的值一致。根据土壤强度，估计漫游车在感兴趣地区的下沉。这项工作的潜在应用包括月球车设计和任务规划、基础设施建设和资源开采。
In a new era of lunar exploration, pyroclastic deposits have been identified as valuable targets for resource utilization and scientific inquiry. Little is understood about the geomechanical properties and the trafficability of the surface material in these areas, which is essential for successful mission planning and execution. Past incidents with rovers highlight the importance of reliable information about surface properties for future, particularly robotic, lunar mission concepts. Characteristics of 149 boulder tracks are measured in Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow Angle Camera images and used to derive the bearing capacity of pyroclastic deposits and, for comparison, mare and highland regions from the surface down to similar to 5-m depth, as a measure of trafficability. Results are compared and complemented with bearing capacity values calculated from physical property data collected in situ during Apollo, Surveyor, and Lunokhod missions. Qualitative observations of tracks show no region-dependent differences, further suggesting similar geomechanical properties in the regions. Generally, bearing capacity increases with depth and decreases with higher slope gradients, independent of the type of region. At depths of 0.19 to 5m, pyroclastic materials have bearing capacities equal or higher than those of mare and highland material and, thus, may be equally trafficable at surface level. Calculated bearing capacities based on orbital observations are consistent with values derived using in situ data. Bearing capacity values are used to estimate wheel sinkage of rover concepts in pyroclastic deposits. This study's findings can be used in the context of traverse planning, rover design, and in situ extraction of lunar resources.Plain Language Summary Future explorers will be visiting pyroclastic deposits for research and resource extraction. However, the properties of the surface are not well known and it is unclear how well vehicles and humans are able to travel across these areas. Properties of 149 boulder tracks are measured in spacecraft imagery and are used to derive estimations for the strength of pyroclastic, mare, and highland area material from the surface down to similar to 5-m depth. Results are compared and complemented with soil strength estimates that have been derived based on in situ measurements taken during previous lunar surface missions. In all regions of interest, tracks have similar appearances, implying that the surface material has comparable properties. Generally, soil strength increases with increasing depth and decreases with higher local slope angles. At depth, pyroclastic deposits show equal or significantly higher strength in comparison to mare and highland areas and, therefore, might be equally trafficable at surface level. Calculations based on globally distributed spacecraft images agree with values derived from Apollo-era in situ data. Based on the soil strength, the sinkage of rovers in the areas of interest is estimated. Potential applications of this work include rover design and mission planning, infrastructure construction, and resource extraction.