Effective Crewed Surface Science near the Lunar South Pole: Some Illumination Considerations

Exploration near the lunar South Pole has substantial scientific promise for expanding our understanding of the Moon beyond what has been accomplished by Apollo and other lunar missions. An obvious difference from the Apollo experience is that the polar location for Artemis will guarantee the Sun is going to be low above the horizon. A great deal of excellent work has been, and is being, done on the availability of light (“yes/no”) for exploration purposes [e.g., 1-4]. However, we raise the additional consideration of the qualitative effects of low solar elevation on crew traverses, crew observations, and other science measurements [see also 5, though ground rules of that study presumed higher Sun]. We emphasize that our view is that these issues are unlikely to be mission objective-threatening, particularly if adequately considered in advance.