Choosing Locations & Creating the Path

SPA BASIN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

1. The first intention was to create a circular path, which would lay between the South Pole and the equatorial regions. But this would have prevented research on equatorial regions.

Elliptical Path

MALAPERT M. WATER GATHERING

3. The Sundial Explorer will start with an elliptical path around the South Pole Aitkin Basin and Malapert Mountain, as they are seen as optimal locations for scientific research and water gathering.

2. By creating an elliptical path that extends to the equatorial regions, research on equatorial regions is enabled. Furthermore, water for life support can be extracted from the Malapert Mountain.

4. By rotating the elliptical path for further scientific research on different areas around the South Pole (water gathering station on Malapert Mountain), a pattern of a lotus flower is created. This way, a large area of the lunar surface is researched while staying in constant sunlight.