NASA has selected three new scientific investigations to further our understanding of the Moon and support the establishment of humanity’s first lunar outpost, Moon Base. These payloads were chosen through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program and will be delivered to the lunar surface via the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative as part of the Moon Base Program.
Selected Payload Suites:
-
Lunar Environment Monitoring Station – South Pole (LEMS-SP):
- Purpose: To serve as a long-term environmental and hazard monitoring station.
- Capabilities: It will track falling micrometeoroids, monitor volatiles in the lunar atmosphere, and provide critical hazard assessments using a short-period seismometer.
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Mehdi Benna, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
-
Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar Pit Investigation (GIMLI):
- Purpose: To investigate the Marius Hills Pit and search for subterranean lava tubes.
- Significance: If lava tubes are found, they could serve as protective natural shelters for future astronauts, aiding in habitat planning and safety.
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Nathaniel Putzig, Planetary Science Institute.
-
Depth Imager with Spectral and Color Optics (DISCO):
- Purpose: To measure ice in lunar micro-cold traps and study the surface’s behavior.
- Applications: This data will assist in safe surface operations and resource utilization, particularly regarding the potential use of ice.
- Principal Investigator: Dr. Ariel Deutsch, NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Brad Bailey from NASA emphasized that these new selections will significantly enhance their scientific capabilities and further their understanding of the Moon, paving the way for future astronaut missions.
For more information, visit NASA’s lunar science page.
Contact: Tiffany Blake
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2546
tiffany.n.blake@nasa.gov
