Exploring the near-surface at the lunar South Pole with geophysical tools

Abstract: Geophysical imaging of the lunar near-surface structure will be key for in situ resource utilization, identification of hazards for crews and infrastructure, and answering science questions on the formation and interior of the Moon. The goal of this white paper is to highlight the value of ground-based geophysical experiments by a crew and to outline a series of experiments to address key science questions. Specifically, we propose for the Artemis III crewed mission multidisciplinary investigations using geophysical methods such as seismic, seismological, ground penetrating radar, and electromagnetic techniques. We identified a series of prime near-surface targets for such geophysical investigations: (1) establishing a lunar fault monitoring observatory across a lobate scarp to study recent lunar seismicity, (2) determining the physical properties of the regolith at the landing site, (3) investigating the structure and in-situ properties of permanently shadowed regions in the context of the search for water ice and other cold-trapped volatiles, and (4) imaging the interior structure of the South-Pole Aitken basin. Beyond Artemis III, the Moon will serve as a comprehensive testbed for extra-terrestrial geophysics. Hence, lessons learned from human geophysical exploration of the Moon will be key for the exploration of the moons of Mars and near-Earth object(s), and prepare us for the human exploration of space beyond the Moon.