NASA Selects Three New Lunar Science Missions for Artemis Program

NASA announced Tuesday the selection of three new science investigations that will significantly enhance the understanding and exploration of the Moon. These research payloads, slated for delivery to the lunar surface by American companies no earlier than 2028 through NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, are part of the agency’s broader Artemis campaign. The selected investigations aim to study the Moon’s terrain, radiation environment, and internal heat, with the ultimate goal of informing future human missions and expanding scientific knowledge.

The initiative represents a new approach to lunar science, leveraging the innovation of U.S. industry to achieve scientific discovery on the Moon’s surface. These payloads are expected to not only deepen our understanding of the Moon’s history and environment but also contribute to the safety and navigation of future human explorers on the lunar surface and beyond. The agency’s strategy relies on supporting a consistent schedule of lunar deliveries, which in turn fosters the growth of a lunar economy and capitalizes on the entrepreneurial spirit within the commercial space sector.

One of the selected payloads is the Emission Imager for Lunar Infrared Analysis in 3D (EMILIA-3D). This instrument will generate three-dimensional thermal models of the lunar landscape by combining data from a thermal imager, which measures surface temperatures, with a stereo pair of visible-light cameras. These detailed models are crucial for improving imaging and navigation on the Moon, providing a better understanding of the properties of lunar regolith, the dusty soil covering the Moon’s surface, and what temperature readings can reveal about its composition.

Another investigation, the Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER), will focus on measuring the Moon’s internal heat flow. The LISTER instrument is designed to drill beneath the lunar surface and, at various depths, record temperature changes and the thermal conductivity of the surrounding material. A previous iteration of LISTER was successfully deployed on the Blue Ghost Mission 1 CLPS delivery, where it conducted temperature and thermal conductivity measurements at depths of up to approximately three feet. This new LISTER investigation will specifically examine the heat generated by the Moon itself, offering valuable insights into its thermal evolution over time.

The third selected payload is the Site-agnostic Energetic Lunar Ion and Neutron Environment (SELINE). This payload aims to provide novel data on the Moon’s radiation environment. For the first time at the lunar surface, SELINE will study the radiation originating from primary galactic cosmic rays, as well as secondary particles, and analyze how this radiation interacts with the lunar regolith. The information gathered by SELINE is expected to enhance our comprehension of planetary processes occurring on the Moon and will be critical for preparing for space weather events and ensuring the safety of astronauts during prolonged lunar surface operations.

These scientific experiments were chosen through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) call for proposals. Notably, they are designed to collect data without requiring specific landing sites on the lunar surface. NASA will subsequently assign these payloads to particular CLPS delivery task orders at a future date. CLPS is a program through which NASA dispatches scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to advance capabilities for lunar science, exploration, and commercial development.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from NASA

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