A simulation of the lunar prospector's gamma ray spectrometer

Abstract

The expected response of the Lunar Prospector's Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument was predicted using a Monte Carlo simulation. The full lunar spectrum was generated using 90 lines and a continuum gamma ray background taken from Apollo 15 and 16 data. The Monte Carlo program uses the exact dimensions and composition of the Gamma Ray Spectrometer in order to most accurately predict spectral performance, assuming an operating temperature on orbit of -30 degrees Celsius. The Gamma Ray Spectrometer will be launched aboard the Lunar Prospector spacecraft on October 24, 1997. The Lunar Prospector will assume a 100 km altitude orbit around the moon, allowing the Gamma Ray Spectrometer to map the elemental composition of the surface. The simulated Gamma Ray Spectrometer response can be used as a comparison for the actual data in order to determine how well the spectrometer is working