Reading the Moon’s surface.
This research links sample return sample analysis with remote sensing and numerical modelling[1] of impacts to understand the geological history of the Moon. Our research has helped to resolve the initial formation of the lunar crust, evolution of igneous/volcanic activity and the history of impact events on the Moon.
We build on a long history of studying NASA’s Apollo missions at Curtin to unravel these processes. We’ve investigated samples from Apollo, Luna and Chang’e sample return missions[2]. Our methods include:
[1] Numerical modelling is a numerical technique that tackles geological problems through using computer simulation of geological scenarios.
[2] A sample return mission is a mission that collects samples from outer-space and returns it to Earth for analysis.