Recent Exploration of the Moon: Science from Lunar Missions Since 2006

Abstract

Exploration of the Moon has been a goal of humankind for millennia, and in recent decades enormous advances in lunar knowledge have resulted from orbital, landed, robotic, and human exploration and sample return. This chapter introduces the planetary community to the array of missions that have explored the Moon in the years since 2006. Because other chapters in this volume will address the discoveries and results of these missions, we focus here on a short summary of science goals for each mission and a description of instruments and their capabilities.