Artemis III Extravehicular Activity Science Imaging Use Cases and Needs

Astronaut-acquired photography will provide a critical context for maximizing the scientific return from the extravehicular activities (EVAs) planned for Artemis III. Images will be used to understand the context of crew observations and samples spatially in the exploration area, temporally within the mission timeline, and thematically within the Artemis III science traceability matrix (STM). Both in during the mission in the science evaluation room (SER)and after the mission during curation (preliminary examination and beyond), image data will enable scientific observations and interpretations of the Artemis III landing site. Image data will also be useful for navigation and for monitoring EVA progress and astronaut safety should image data be available in near real time, as well as precise localization during and after the mission. The cameras for Artemis III should be considered an extension of surface science possibilities for the mission. Building on other documents, here we report on our identified use cases and needs concerning the capabilities of these instruments for Artemis III.