Volatile Prospecting through Thermal Properties of Subsurface Icy Regolith

There is sufficient evidence provided through remote sensing and the LCROSS impact study, that water and other hydrogen bearing molecules exist in lunar permanently shadowed regions (PSR). This information while invaluable does not provide the localized prospecting information required by space agencies and mining corporations to invest in extraction of volatiles. Data on where the volatiles are located would be needed in order to create proven volatile reserve. This study demonstrates how a simple thermal sensor detects differences in thermal diffusivity in icy regolith with varying amounts of cryogenic water ice. We will show how the apparatus simulates a PSR environment, and how utilizing the simple sensor differentiates general water ice mass percentages. We will also discuss the time and energy required to execute a single sample cycle for efficient prospecting in PSRs.