Bistatic radar observations of the moon using the Clementine spacecraft and Deep Space Network

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Scientific paper

The author prepared, executed, and analyzed the data from a series of spotlight-mode bistatic radar (BSR) observations of the Moon's North and South Poles. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization Clementine spacecraft served as an S-band transmitter, and 70-m antennas of the NASA/Deep Space Network received the reflections. An average value of circular polarization ratio (CPR) for both poles of 0.344 (<0.031 standard deviation) was found, but varied between 0.20 to 0.6 over small regions. The North Pole average CPR was 0.359 (<0.0308 standard deviation). The South Pole average CPR was 0.333 (<0.0238 standard deviation). By analyzing the CPR response versus bistatic angle, the author discovered a slight CPR enhancement approaching 1 dB (0.11 dB standard deviation) for Orbit 234 of the South Pole. This CPR enhancement could result from the coherent backscatter opposition effect (CBOE). Radar observable CBOE would be consistent with radar scattering from theoretically predicted, but never observed, ice accumulations. The beta-zero BSR track and CPR enhancement correlate with areas of permanent shadow within the South Pole-Aitken Basin and with high hydrogen accumulations reported by Lunar Prospector. The author found that BSR beta-zero radar tracks through periodically solar illuminated areas yielded no enhancements in his data. The effect of angle of incidence on CPR for the South Pole was considered, and Orbit 234 was found to have a slightly elevated CPR compared to the other orbits. Previous radar observations of the Moon employed earth- based monostatic radars or rudimentary orbiting bistatic techniques. These methods only used the quasi-specular (QS) reflection component of scattering. This work is the first successful experiment to (a)collect data from lunar bistatic radar scattering using other than the dominant QS component, (b)use spotlight-mode bistatic radar technique outside of earth, and (c)return useful S-band bistatic scattering data from lunar polar regions, and (d)claim to detect slight radar enhancement for the South Pole using bistatic radar. Previous radar studies reached inconclusive or negative results regarding ice [Stacy, 1993, Stacy, et al., 1997; Simpson et al., 1999]. Simpson found ``weak suggestions of enhanced echoes at the time of South Pole backscatter'' [Simpson et al., 1999], while Stacy found high reflectivity and high CPR (>1) areas near the pole [Stacy, 1993, Stacy, et al., 1997]. Simpson and Stacy chose to attribute their observed enhancements to diffuse scattering, but allow that ice scattering might exist.

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