Biomaterial Database

Lunar Prospector: overview. 1998

A B Binder

Lunar Research Institute, 1180 Sunrise Drive, Gilroy, CA 95020, USA. abinder@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Lunar Prospector is providing a global map of the composition of the moon and analyzing the moon's gravity and magnetic fields. It has been in a polar orbit around the moon since 16 January 1998. Neutron flux data show that there is abundant H, and hence probably abundant water ice, in the lunar polar regions. Gamma-ray and neutron data reveal the distribution of Fe, Ti, and other major and trace elements on the moon. The data delineate the global distributions of a key trace element-rich component of lunar materials called KREEP and of the major rock types. Magnetic mapping shows that the lunar magnetic fields are strong antipodal to Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis and has discovered the smallest known magnetosphere, magnetosheath, and bow shock complex in the solar system. Gravity mapping has delineated seven new gravity anomalies and shown that the moon has a small Fe-rich core of about 300 km radius.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008280	Magnetics	The study of MAGNETIC PHENOMENA.	Magnetic
D004602	Elements	Substances that comprise all matter. Each element is made up of atoms that are identical in number of electrons and protons and in nuclear charge but may differ in mass or number of neutrons.	Element
D005118	Extraterrestrial Environment	The environment outside the earth or its atmosphere. The environment may refer to a closed cabin (such as a space shuttle or space station) or to space itself, the moon, or other planets.	Space (Astronomy),Environment, Extraterrestrial,Environments, Extraterrestrial,Extraterrestrial Environments,Spaces (Astronomy)
D006112	Gravitation	Acceleration produced by the mutual attraction of two masses, and of magnitude inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two centers of mass. It is also the force imparted by the earth, moon, or a planet to an object near its surface. (From NASA Thesaurus, 1988)	G Force,Gravistimulation,Gravity,Force, G,G Forces,Gravities
D006859	Hydrogen	The first chemical element in the periodic table with atomic symbol H, and atomic number 1. Protium (atomic weight 1) is by far the most common hydrogen isotope. Hydrogen also exists as the stable isotope DEUTERIUM (atomic weight 2) and the radioactive isotope TRITIUM (atomic weight 3). Hydrogen forms into a diatomic molecule at room temperature and appears as a highly flammable colorless and odorless gas.	Protium,Hydrogen-1
D013057	Spectrum Analysis	The measurement of the amplitude of the components of a complex waveform throughout the frequency range of the waveform. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Spectroscopy,Analysis, Spectrum,Spectrometry
D014867	Water	A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Hydrogen Oxide
D016081	Moon	The natural satellite of the planet Earth. It includes the lunar cycles or phases, the lunar month, lunar landscapes, geography, and soil.	Lunar Cycle,Lunar Phases,Moon Cycle,Moon Phases,Cycle, Lunar,Cycle, Moon,Cycles, Lunar,Cycles, Moon,Lunar Cycles,Lunar Phase,Moon Cycles,Moon Phase,Moons,Phase, Lunar,Phase, Moon,Phases, Lunar,Phases, Moon
D018531	Spacecraft	Devices, manned and unmanned, which are designed to be placed into an orbit about the Earth or into a trajectory to another celestial body. (NASA Thesaurus, 1988)	Biosatellites,Launch Vehicle,Satellites, Artificial,Satellites, Man-Made,Space Capsule,Space Craft,Space Probe,Space Ship,Space Shuttle,Space Vehicles,Spaceship,Artificial Satellite,Artificial Satellites,Biosatellite,Capsule, Space,Capsules, Space,Launch Vehicles,Man-Made Satellite,Man-Made Satellites,Probe, Space,Probes, Space,Satellite, Artificial,Satellite, Man-Made,Satellites, Man Made,Shuttle, Space,Shuttles, Space,Space Capsules,Space Probes,Space Ships,Space Shuttles,Space Vehicle,Spacecrafts,Spaceships,Vehicle, Launch,Vehicles, Launch