SP10
Lunar Science and Exploration

Main Organiser
Bernard H. Foing, ESA & ILEWG
Bernard.Foing@esa.int

Co-Organiser(s)
Carle Pieters, Brown U., US
Narendra Bandhari, ISRO
S. Sasaki, ISAS

Brief Description
After the results of Muses-A/Hiten, Clementine and Lunar Prospector last decade that changed our views of the Moon, a series of missions to explore the Moon are currently planned, continuing de facto an International Lunar Exploration programme. The ESA SMART-1 mission is to be launched in summer 2003, followed by the Japanese Lunar-A (2004), Selene (2005). Also there are studies of Lunar missions in India (Somayana), China and in the US (South-Pole Aitken Basin sample return mission). The AOGS lunar session will be timely to report on the in-flight performance of SMART-1, the status of Lunar-A and Selene, as well as updates on the design and scientific payload of future lunar missions. This session will offer the opportunity to discuss the science preparation and exploitation of lunar missions, as well as perspectives for collaborations in future exploration. Papers on progresses on lunar origin and evolution, comparative planetology, observations and new data analysis, theory and modeling are also welcomed.