In 2024, NASA will launch the Artemis III mission to the Moon’s South Pole, the first human mission to the surface of the Moon in the 21st century. In preparation for this historic mission, NASA is now planning the science activities to be executed by the crew of two. The Planetary Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is forming a Science Definition Team (SDT) that will pull from existing community documents (the LEAG Roadmap, Decadal surveys, SCEM report, ASM report) to develop the detailed science objectives to achieve the science goals that have already been released by the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) in the Artemis Science Plan.
To aid the SDT, NASA is soliciting short (maximum 2 pages including references) white papers on the science to be accomplished with the Artemis III human crew. The landing site has not yet been selected but will be within 6 degrees of the South Pole. The two-member crew will conduct multiple walking excursions (EVAs), enabling among other activities, collection of lunar samples and the use of cameras and sensors, which could include portable instruments for use by astronauts, or deployed, standalone payloads. White papers should focus on the science objectives to be accomplished and not on instrument or technology development recommendations. There is no limit to the number of white papers an individual or group may submit.
The final announcement was released on October 25, 2019, including Attachment F which provides the HLS requirements. Supporting documentation for Human Landing Systems (HLS) can be found here, NextSTEP Appendix H: Human Landing System.
White papers must be submitted by 5 pm Central Daylight Time on September 8, 2020 via the USRA meeting portal.
Technical Note: If you don’t already have a user account with USRA’s meeting services, then you will need to create one in order to submit a White Paper.
Questions and comments may be directed to Sarah Noble at Sarah.K.Noble@nasa.gov