Penetrators as planetary probes and MoonLITE a proposed UK-led lunar mission

While high velocity penetrator technology has been highly developed in terrestrial applications, their value to planetary science and exploration has yet to be demonstrated. Three missions have built and tested penetrators: Mars 96 - failed to leave earth orbit, Deep Space 2 - failed at Mars; and Lunar A - cancelled. Nevertheless, we will argue that the case for penetrators as planetary probes is strong. Penetrators provide a potentially low-cost and effective way to sample the sub-surface environment of planets, moons and asteroids at multiple sites within a single mission. Therefore, penetrators can create global networks and/or address local issues (such as the presence and nature of frozen volatiles in the permanently shaded craters of the Moon). The state of the art of penetrator technology will be described and its application to a variety of solar systems objects discussed. MoonLITE is a proposed UK-led 4 penetrator lunar mission for launch in 2014. The status of this mission will be described together with the outcomes of full-scale impact trials held in the UK during May 2008.