DARE Mission Design: Low RFI Observations from a Low-Altitude Frozen Lunar Orbit

Abstract

The Dark Ages Radio Experiment (DARE) seeks to study the cosmic Dark Ages approximately 80 to 420 million years after the Big Bang. Observations require truly quiet radio conditions, shielded from Sun and Earth electromagnetic (EM) emissions, on the far side of the Moon. DARE's science orbit is a frozen orbit with respect to lunar gravitational perturbations. The altitude and orientation of the orbit remain nearly fixed indefinitely, maximizing science time without the need for maintenance. DARE's observation targets avoid the galactic center and enable investigation of the universe's first stars and galaxies.