PERISCOPE: PERIapsis Subsurface Cave Optical Explorer

Abstract: The PERISCOPE study focuses primarily on lunar caves, due to the potential for being imaged in orbital scenarios. In the intervening years, from 2012-2015, scientists developed further rationales and interest in the scientific value of lunar caves. It does not appear that they are likely to be sinks for water-ice due to the relatively warm temperatures(~-20 degrees Celsius) in the caves leading to geologically-rapid migration of unbound water due to sublimation, and inevitable loss through an…