Scientific Research & Planetary Resources

Peer-reviewed literature foundation, official NASA data provenance, and mission engineering resources

NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026

Scientific Literature Review (15 Peer-Reviewed Papers)

15 peer-reviewed publications underpinning SelenSync's models and MCDA parameters. Research compiled by Afshara Tasneem Zoa, Labiba Mahzabin, and Nafiz Akib Khan (CFSBR SpaceWeb).

15 Citations Verified

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Terrain & Illumination•JGR Planets•2011

Mazarico et al. (2011)

Illumination conditions of the lunar polar regions using LOLA topography

DOI

Key Finding

Systematic LOLA Polar Illumination Baseline

First LOLA-based polar illumination maps. Shackleton rim identified as prime high-illumination zone. Topographic horizon masking drives solar availability at poles.

Terrain & Illumination•Icarus•2014

Gläser et al. (2014)

Illumination conditions at the lunar south poles using high-resolution digital terrain models

DOI

Key Finding

95.65% Illumination at 10 m Elevation

95.65% illumination achieved at 10 m above ground level using 20 m/pixel LOLA DTM. Mast elevation significantly improves solar capture at crater rim sites.

Terrain & Illumination•Planetary and Space Science•2018

Gläser et al. (2018)

Co-registration of laser altimeter tracks with a LOLA-based slope map for long-term illumination analysis

DOI

Key Finding

18.6-Year Precessional Cycle Validation

18.6-year lunar precessional cycle governs long-term illumination variation. Shackleton rim remains consistently high across the full cycle.

Terrain & Illumination•Planetary and Space Science•2021

Barker et al. (2021)

A new lunar digital elevation model from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter

DOI

Key Finding

5 m/pixel DEM, ±0.30–0.50 m RMS Accuracy

5 m/pixel DEM with RMS height uncertainty 0.30–0.50 m — the highest resolution publicly available LOLA product.

Terrain & Illumination•Icarus•2013

Speyerer & Robinson (2013)

Persistently illuminated regions at the lunar poles: Ideal sites for future exploration

DOI

Key Finding

94% Annual Illumination (Shackleton Rim)

LROC WAC image-based validation: Shackleton crater rim illuminated for ~94% of a lunar year from direct optical imagery.

DTE Communications•JPL Technical Report 42-176•2009

Bryant (2009)

Solar and communications analysis of Lunar South Pole sites

DOI

Key Finding

92% Solar vs. 51% DTE Decoupling

Best South Pole site achieves 92% solar illumination but only 51% DTE visibility. Solar and DTE availability are decoupled.

DTE Communications•Acta Astronautica•2012

Koebel et al. (2012)

Multi-parameter analysis for landing site selection near the lunar South Pole

DOI

Key Finding

3-Parameter Combined Site Scoring (ESA)

ESA lander study combining illumination, communications, and terrain slope in a multi-parameter framework.

DTE Communications•The Astronomical Journal•2021

Park et al. (2021)

The JPL Planetary and Lunar Ephemerides DE440 and DE441

DOI

Key Finding

Coverage 1550–2650 CE, Sub-Arcsecond Accuracy

DE440/DE441 ephemeris covers 1550–2650 CE with sub-arcsecond accuracy. Primary planetary kinematics dataset for modern spaceflight.

Thermal Environment•Science•2010

Paige et al. (2010)

Diviner lunar radiometer observations of cold traps in the south polar region of the Moon

DOI

Key Finding

38 K Minimum Temperature Floor

PSR cold trap minimum temperature = 38 K (−235 °C). Among the coldest stable surfaces in the Solar System.

Thermal Environment•Icarus•2017

Williams et al. (2017)

Seasonal polar temperatures on the Moon

DOI

Key Finding

250 Billion Measurements, 0.5°/0.25 hr Resolution

250 billion calibrated Diviner measurements; 0.5° spatial resolution and 0.25 hr local-time resolution thermal model.

Thermal Environment•Nature Astronomy•2021

Hayne, Aharonson & Schörghofer (2021)

Micro cold traps on the Moon

DOI

Key Finding

40,000 km² Total Micro Cold Trap Area

Micro cold traps exist at 1 cm–1 km scales; total estimated area ≈ 40,000 km². More abundant than large PSRs.

Power Systems•NASA Technical Memorandum TM-2007-215025•2007

Fincannon (2007)

Lunar South Pole illumination: Review, reassessment, and power system implications

DOI

Key Finding

0.71 Illumination Fraction; 73–117 hr Battery Need

Shackleton rim average illumination fraction = 0.71; battery storage required = 73–117 hr depending on lander base load.

Power Systems•Geophysical Research Letters•2008

Noda et al. (2008)

Illumination conditions at the lunar polar regions by KAGUYA (SELENE) laser altimeter

DOI

Key Finding

Independent JAXA/KAGUYA Altimetry Validation

KAGUYA LALT altimeter independently validates polar illumination zones without relying on LOLA — an independent JAXA cross-check.

Multi-Criteria MCDA•Icarus•2017

Smith et al. (2017)

Summary of the results from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter after seven years in lunar orbit

DOI

Key Finding

7-Year LOLA Mission Summary (Provenance Standard)

Comprehensive 7-year LOLA mission summary validating all LOLA-derived terrain products. Gold-standard LOLA data provenance citation.

Multi-Criteria MCDA•Planetary and Space Science•2020

Flahaut et al. (2020)

Regions of interest (ROI) for future exploration missions to the lunar South Pole

DOI

Key Finding

11 ROIs, 3-Criteria GIS Spatial Selection

11 ROIs evaluated using GIS multi-criteria: temperature <110 K, slope <20°, H₂O >100 ppm. Demonstrates multi-parameter South Pole site selection.

SelenSync Academic Positioning

SelenSync is the first web platform unifying terrain illumination (LOLA), DTE link budget (3 DSN complexes), cryogenic thermal survival (Diviner), techno-economic modeling, real-time DE440 ephemeris, and 4 CLPS commercial lander profiles within an integrated decision-support environment — building directly upon the multi-criteria frameworks of Koebel et al. (2012) and Flahaut et al. (2020).