We propose to use the ACS/HRC to delineate UV through visible color units at three test sites on the lunar surface for the purpose of identifying localized areas enriched in potential resources, including TiO2. This pathfinding experiment will make use of HST's unique high resolution imaging capabilities in the near UV. We will observe the Apollo 15 and 17 sites to establish an empirical calibration against sampled lunar soils. We will then observe the Aristarchus Plateau in search of regions enriched in TiO2 at levels that could permit in situ resources utilization activities that support sustained human exploration. Precision mapping of TiO2 abundance and other chemical proxies by virtue of HST's high angular resolution in near UV wavelengths will extend lower resolution Visible-NIR results obtained from orbit by Clementine, and set the stage for future orbital surveys later in the decade. Understanding whether there are lunar near-side sites with adequate resource potential to target human "sorties" and related robotic precursor missions represents an important decision point in NASA's implementation of the President's Vision for Space Exploration. The proposed HST ACS/HRC test data directly support near-term engineering trades associated with the optimal location for the first human return missions to the Moon. No past, current, or planned future lunar orbiting spacecraft will have the ability to investigate the near UV aspects of the lunar spectrum at such scales (~ 50m), so the results of the proposed HST observations are unique and relevant to NASA's mission.

These observations of the Moon will need to be done under gyro guiding and before HST transitions to 2-gyro operations (Aug 22, 2005). In order to minimize the pointing undertainty under gyro guiding, the slew distance from the previous pointing should be minimized. Begin by acquiring guide stars at a pointing just outside of the normal Moon avoidance zone. Then, drop to gyro guiding and slew to the first science target. Observe the target with ACS/HRC in using each of F502N, F344N, F660N, and F250W in turn. Start a new tracking for each exposure in order to minimize error vs. the Moon'a actual motion. Do a POS TARG mosaic in order to allow for gyro pointing uncertainty. This completes the first visit. The 2nd and 3rd visits repeat the same procedure for the two remaining science targets. The multiple tracking slews per orbit are used to try to achieve a better fit of HST's linear moving target tracks to the non-linear motion of the Moon. The mutiple repeats of the target images with different POS TARGs are intended to generate a rough mosaic of the target area in order to minimize the chance of completely missing the target due to gyro guiding pointing uncertainty. none none none 12 false 0.0 false false false false false AVAILABLE UNIDENTIFIED UNDESIGNATED This target is used for guide star acquisition prior to slewing to the Moon. The pointing should be leading the Moon's limb by about 9.5 degrees. These target coordinates must be defined for a particular time of observation. J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 UNIDENTIFIED UNDESIGNATED This target is used for guide star acquisition prior to slewing to the Moon. The pointing should be leading the Moon's limb by about 9.5 degrees. These target coordinates must be defined for a particular time of observation. J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 UNIDENTIFIED UNDESIGNATED This target is used for guide star acquisition prior to slewing to the Moon. The pointing should be leading the Moon's limb by about 9.5 degrees. These target coordinates must be defined for a particular time of observation. J2000 00 00 0.0000 +00 00 0.00 J2000 SOLAR SYSTEM Generate HST-centric ephemeris instead of normal geocentric ephemeris in order to handle the high parallax correction required for the Moon. Concentrate observtations within +/- 3 minutes of the inflection points of the Moon's angular velocity as seen from HST. surface brightness in V is 4 mag/arcsec^2 FEATURE crater STD=EARTH STD=MOON TYPE=PGRAPHIC,LONG=-310.64,LAT=24.88 NOT ECL P OF ARISTARCHUS BY MOON SOLAR SYSTEM Generate HST-centric ephemeris instead of normal geocentric ephemeris in order to handle the high parallax correction required for the Moon. Concentrate observtations within +/- 3 minutes of the inflection points of the Moon's angular velocity as seen from HST. surface brightness in V is 4 mag/arcsec^2 FEATURE Apollo 15 landing site STD=EARTH STD=MOON TYPE=PGRAPHIC,LONG=-3.634,LAT=26.132 NOT ECL P OF APOLLO-15 BY MOON SOLAR SYSTEM Generate HST-centric ephemeris instead of normal geocentric ephemeris in order to handle the high parallax correction required for the Moon. Concentrate observtations within +/- 3 minutes of the inflection points of the Moon's angular velocity as seen from HST. surface brightness in V is 4 mag/arcsec^2 FEATURE Apollo 17 landing site STD=EARTH STD=MOON TYPE=PGRAPHIC,LONG=-30.775,LAT=20.188 NOT ECL P OF APOLLO-17 BY MOON Schedule before HST enters 2-gyro operations. Disable parallax correction. BETWEEN requirement to match coordinates of MOON-OFFSET-1. false -1 -1 This exposure will result in a guide star acquision to minimize gyro pointing uncertainty before slewing to the Moon. The special commanding moves the SBC filter wheel to the opaque position as an extra precaution against scattered light from the Moon. 41s exposure time accommodates the worst case filter wheel move time. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F658N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F502N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F250W science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F344N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. Schedule before HST enters 2-gyro operations. Disable parallax correction. BETWEEN requirement to match coordinates of MOON-OFFSET-3. false -1 -1 This exposure will result in a guide star acquision to minimize gyro pointing uncertainty before slewing to the Moon. The special commanding moves the SBC filter wheel to the opaque position as an extra precaution against scattered light from the Moon. 41s exposure time accommodates the worst case filter wheel move time. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F658N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F502N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F250W science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F344N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. Schedule before HST enters 2-gyro operations. Disable parallax correction. BETWEEN requirement to match coordinates of MOON-OFFSET-2. false -1 -1 This exposure will result in a guide star acquision to minimize gyro pointing uncertainty before slewing to the Moon. The special commanding moves the SBC filter wheel to the opaque position as an extra precaution against scattered light from the Moon. 41s exposure time accommodates the worst case filter wheel move time. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F658N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F502N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F250W science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This exposure moves the filter wheel into position so that the first F344N science expoure does not have to take the time to do it. This visit will force a PCPTERM and will be scheduled in parallel with the otherwise unrelated science observation that preceeds a Moon visit. This is part of the AOA minimization strategy. false -1 -1 This visit will force a PCPTERM and will be scheduled in parallel with the otherwise unrelated science observation that preceeds a Moon visit. This is part of the AOA minimization strategy. false -1 -1 This visit will force a PCPTERM and will be scheduled in parallel with the otherwise unrelated science observation that preceeds a Moon visit. This is part of the AOA minimization strategy. false -1 -1