A simulated geochemical rover mission to the Taurus-Littrow Valley of the Moon

The effectiveness is tested of using an alpha backscatter, alpha-proton, X-ray spectrometer on a remotely operated rover to analyze soils and provide geologically useful information about the Moon during a simulated mission to a hypothetical site resembling the Apollo 17 landing site. On the mission, 100 soil samples are "analyzed' for major elements at moderate analytical precision. Simulated compositions of soils are generated by combining compositions of components representing the major lithologies occurring at the site in known proportions. The likely limitations and ambiguities that would be encountered are discussed, and it is concluded that much of the knowledge about the Apollo 17 site (based on the return samples) regarding the distribution and relative abundances of lithologies in the regolith could be obtained. This success requires, however, that at least one incompatible element be determined. -from Authors