THE LUNAR SUBSATELLITE EXPERIMENT OF THE ESA MORO MISSION - GOALS ANDPERFORMANCES

The global properties of the lunar gravity field, as well as the local anomalies on the far side and polar regions, are still largely unknow n. They can be determined by means of a satellite-to-satellite trackin g experiment. A low-low configuration is proposed, with a sub-satellit e to be deployed from a main spacecraft orbiting around the Moon. The required measurement is the range rate between the two satellites, wit h an accuracy comparable to the current state of the art for space-bor ne equipment. It is shown how this can be accomplished with a very low mass sub-satellite, carrying no active attitude and thermal control. This experiment is compatible with the constraints of the lunar remote sensing mission MORO, currently under study by ESA. Copyright (C) 199 6 Elsevier Science Ltd