International Lunar Network
Encyclopedia
The International Lunar Network or ILN is a proposed network of a series of landed stations of the United States
and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node
in a lunar geophysical
network. Ultimately this network could comprise 8-10 or more nodes operating simultaneously. In the ILN concept, each node will have a minimum of two core capabilities. These capabilities include seismic sensing, heat flow sensing, and laser retroreflector
s, and will be specific to each station. Because some nodes are planned to be located on the far side of the Moon
, NASA will study a lunar communications relay satellite capability as a part of its contribution to this project.
Individual nodes launched by different space agencies can and likely will carry additional, unique experiments to study local or global lunar science. Such experiments might include atmospheric and dust instruments, plasma physics investigations, astronomical instruments, electromagnetic profiling of lunar regolith
and crust, local geochemistry, and in-situ resource utilization
demonstrations.
On July 24, 2008 a meeting of the space agencies of Canada, France
, Germany
, India, Italy
, Japan
, the Republic of Korea
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
was held at NASA's Lunar Science Institute
, located at the Ames Research Center. During the meeting, the representatives of the nine space agencies discussed about the cooperation on ILN and agreed on a statement of intent as a first step in planning. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
(SMD) and Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) have agreed to provide two pairs of nodes (landed stations) for this network. The first two nodes were to be launched in 2013 and 2014, with the second pair being launched some time between 2016 and 2017. However, the new planning date for launch of the first node is March 01, 2018 The landers are being developed under the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville, Alabama.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node
Node (networking)
In communication networks, a node is a connection point, either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint . The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer referred to...
in a lunar geophysical
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
network. Ultimately this network could comprise 8-10 or more nodes operating simultaneously. In the ILN concept, each node will have a minimum of two core capabilities. These capabilities include seismic sensing, heat flow sensing, and laser retroreflector
Retroreflector
A retroreflector is a device or surface that reflects light back to its source with a minimum scattering of light. An electromagnetic wave front is reflected back along a vector that is parallel to but opposite in direction from the wave's source. The device or surface's angle of incidence is...
s, and will be specific to each station. Because some nodes are planned to be located on the far side of the Moon
Far side of the Moon
The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned away, and is not visible from the surface of the Earth. The far hemisphere was first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959, and was first directly observed by human eyes when the Apollo 8 mission orbited the Moon...
, NASA will study a lunar communications relay satellite capability as a part of its contribution to this project.
Individual nodes launched by different space agencies can and likely will carry additional, unique experiments to study local or global lunar science. Such experiments might include atmospheric and dust instruments, plasma physics investigations, astronomical instruments, electromagnetic profiling of lunar regolith
Regolith
Regolith is a layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock. It includes dust, soil, broken rock, and other related materials and is present on Earth, the Moon, some asteroids, and other terrestrial planets and moons.-Etymology:...
and crust, local geochemistry, and in-situ resource utilization
In-Situ Resource Utilization
In space exploration, in-situ resource utilization describes the proposed use of resources found or manufactured on other astronomical objects to further the goals of a space mission....
demonstrations.
On July 24, 2008 a meeting of the space agencies of Canada, France
CNES
The is the French government space agency . Established under President Charles de Gaulle in 1961, its headquarters are located in central Paris and it is under the supervision of the French Ministries of Defence and Research...
, Germany
German Aerospace Center
The German Aerospace Center is the national centre for aerospace, energy and transportation research of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has multiple locations throughout Germany. Its headquarters are located in Cologne. It is engaged in a wide range of research and development projects in...
, India, Italy
Italian Space Agency
The Italian Space Agency is a government agency established in 1988 to fund, regulate and coordinate space exploration activities in Italy...
, Japan
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The , or JAXA, is Japan's national aerospace agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003, as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the...
, the Republic of Korea
Korea Aerospace Research Institute
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute is the aeronautics and space agency of South Korea. Its main laboratories are located in Daejeon, in the Daedeok Science Town. Current projects include the KSLV launcher. Past projects include the 1999 Arirang-1 satellite. The agency was founded in 1989...
, the United Kingdom
British National Space Centre
The British National Space Centre was a British government body that coordinated civil space activities for the UK. It was replaced on 1 April 2010 by the UK Space Agency.-Structure:...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was held at NASA's Lunar Science Institute
Lunar and Planetary Institute
The Lunar and Planetary Institute is a scientific research institute dedicated to study of the solar system, its formation, evolution, and current state. The Institute is part of the Universities Space Research Association and is supported by the Science Mission Directorate of the National...
, located at the Ames Research Center. During the meeting, the representatives of the nine space agencies discussed about the cooperation on ILN and agreed on a statement of intent as a first step in planning. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
Science Mission Directorate
The Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration engages the United States’ science community, sponsors scientific research, and develops and deploys satellites and probes in collaboration with NASA’s partners around the world to answer fundamental questions...
(SMD) and Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) have agreed to provide two pairs of nodes (landed stations) for this network. The first two nodes were to be launched in 2013 and 2014, with the second pair being launched some time between 2016 and 2017. However, the new planning date for launch of the first node is March 01, 2018 The landers are being developed under the Lunar Precursor Robotic Program at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
in Huntsville, Alabama.