Very-Low-Frequency Radio Astronomy from the Moon

1 MOTIVATION

1.1 Why the Moon?

1.2 Why astronomy from the Moon?

1.3 Why very-low-frequency astronomy from the Moon?

1.3.1 Discovering the new universe
1.3.2 Shielding against interference
1.3.3 Taking the most feasible & urgent first step

2 FOREGOING EFFORT

2.1 Initial idea

2.2 Specifications / Precursors

2.3 Design studies

2.4 Concept comparison / Challenges

2.5 Consensus

3 REALISATION

3.1 Realistic possibilities

3.1.1 Earth orbit
3.1.2 Lunar orbit
3.1.3 Lunar near side
3.1.4 Lunar south pole
3.1.5 Lunar far side

3.2 Steps toward realization

3.2.1 Propose measurements by upcoming missions
3.2.2 Propose the piggyback mission to the lunar south pole
3.2.3 Address any issues identified so far

4 STUDIES WITH RADIO WAVE SIMULATION

4.1 Purpose

4.1.1 Shielding of interference by the Moon
4.1.2 Effects of lunar environment on observations
4.1.3 Access - lunar base

4.2 Simulation of radio wave propagation

4.2.1 Wave simulation
4.2.2 Lunar electrical properties
4.2.3 Lunar ionosphere
4.2.4 Interferometric observations

4.3 Attenuation of interference on the lunar far side

4.3.1 Goals
4.3.2 Setup
4.3.3 Results

4.4 Attenuation of interference at the lunar south pole

4.4.1 Goals
4.4.2 Setup
4.4.3 Results

4.5 Effects of subsurface structures on observations

4.5.1 Goals
4.5.2 Setup
4.5.3 Results

4.6 Conclusions

5 PROPOSAL

5.1 Precursors

5.2 Funding and Implementation

5.2.1 Budget
5.2.2 Schedule

5.3 Timeline

5.3.1 2003: LunarSat
5.3.2 2006: SELENE
5.3.3 2010: Lunar Orbiting Array
5.3.4 2015: Lunar South Polar Array
5.3.5 2020: Lunar Far Side Array

5.4 Mission Design Study

5.4.1 Objectives
5.4.2 Requirements
5.4.3 Constraints
5.4.4 Concept
5.4.5 Options
5.4.6 Drivers
5.4.7 Characterization
5.4.8 Tradeoff
5.4.9 Baseline

5.5 Proposal

A Wave simulation code