Endurance Science Workshop 2023 Final Report

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2502.07831
• Publication Date: 2025-02-10
• Authors: J. T. Keane; Barbara Cohen; C. A. Crow; B. T. Greenhagen; Bradley L. Jolliff; Yang Liu; C. K. Shearer; Sonia M. Tikoo-Sc...; Sarah N. Valencia
• Keywords: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); FOS: Physical sciences; Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Endurance is a mission concept to explore and ultimately return samples from the Moon's largest oldest impact basin, South Pole-Aitken (SPA). SPA holds answers many outstanding planetary science questions, including earliest bombardment of Solar System evolution interior. would address these questions by traversing 2,000 kilometers across lunar farside, collecting samples, delivering those Artemis astronauts for Earth. was identified as highest priority strategic NASA's Lunar Discovery Program in recent Planetary Science Astrobiology Decadal Survey. This report summarizes results first public workshop about concept. Major findings include: (1) an exciting that long-standing, high-priority community ready it. (2) Endurance's sample objectives are achievable, although they require coordinated analysis techniques numerous diverse samples. (3) Geologic context essential addressing objectives. (4) While center on return, long traverse enable variety additional transformative investigations. (5) ambitious be enabled enhanced investing developing key technologies now. (6) should strive include more perspectives its formulation, particularly early-career scientists engineers who will operate rover analyze early formulation next major activity Definition Team (SDT). It expected this therein may useful input SDT.