Pegasus
One of my inspirations for making my planetary maps was my father’s cousin, Clarence Kylander. Clarence was an avid map collector. He bought his first two maps in 1989 while on vacation in Hamilton, Bermuda from a shop called Pegasus. They were maps of the New England coastal area from the 1700s, where he lived.
When he returned from the vacation, Clarence quickly began buying more maps that interested him. He studied and researched the history of maps and mapmaking and started attending auctions. In 1999, with the help of a friend, he created his now defunct Web site, snugharbormaps.com, through which he sold maps, atlases and prints from his extensive collection, with prices ranging from $25 to $2500.
In my early career, I worked in the planning and scheduling group of the AI lab at NASA Ames Research Center. One of the project teams was designing and analyzing algorithms that automated traverse planning for autonomous rovers. Later, other teams mapped the Moon and Mars as part of a NASA Space Act Agreement with Google. However, it wasn’t until the US Artemis program established the goal of returning men to the Moon, that I found myself interested in making my own maps.
Here is an ArcGIS article that discusses the importance of maps for lunar missions, and describes how to calculate “traversability.”
When it comes to mission planning, spatial data is vital. Maps of the lunar surface have and will play a vital role in lunar surface exploration in several ways:
Identifying safe and efficient landing sites: Maps of the lunar surface can be used to identify potential landing sites that are safe and meet the specific requirements of the Artemis mission. For example, maps can be used to identify landing sites that are relatively flat, free of hazards, and have access to sunlight and resources.
Planning and executing traverses: Maps of the lunar surface can be used to plan and execute traverses between the landing site and other areas of interest, such as scientific targets or resource-rich areas. Maps can be used to identify the best routes to take, avoiding hazards and minimizing travel time.
Supporting resource exploration: Maps of the lunar surface can be used to identify potential resources, such as water ice and mineral deposits. Maps can also be used to assess the feasibility of extracting and using these resources.
Ensuring safety: Maps of the lunar surface can be used to identify potential hazards, such as craters, steep slopes, and permanently shadowed regions. Maps can help astronauts to avoid these hazards and stay safe while exploring the Moon.
