NASA has selected three new scientific investigations and their payload suites to explore the lunar surface, search for hidden ice, and investigate potential underground caves as part of preparations for a sustained human presence according to NASA. The selections were announced through the agency’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program, known as PRISM, and will be delivered to the Moon via the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative as reported by Tech Times.
The initiatives are designed to gather critical data on lunar resources, environmental hazards, and natural shelters before astronauts live and work on the Moon for extended periods according to Aerospace Global News. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, stated that the agency is building an interplanetary survival guide to provide future crews with necessary information and safety precautions as noted by Aerospace Global News.
Investigating Marius Hills Pit for Underground Lava Tubes
One of the selected payload suites, the Geophysical Investigation for Mapping Lunar Interior (GIMLI) mission, will target the Marius Hills Pit to determine whether it opens into an underground lava tube according to The Economic Times. Lava tubes are natural underground pathways created when hot lava flows out and leaves molten material underneath to drain noted the Economic Times. If confirmed, such cavities could potentially shelter future astronauts from radiation, extreme temperature swings exceeding 250 degrees Celsius between day and night, and micrometeoroid impacts reported Tech Times.
The GIMLI mission combines ground-penetrating radar, a gravimeter, cameras, and an active-source seismic system according to Tech Times. This active-source seismic component marks the first intentional generation of seismic waves on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 astronauts used explosive charges in December 1972 stated Tech Times. The investigation is led by Nathaniel Putzig of the Planetary Science Institute according to the Economic Times.
Searching for Ice and Assessing Environmental Hazards
The second payload suite, the Depth Imager with Spectral and Color Optics (DISCO), will provide direct, on-the-ground measurements of ice hidden in micro-cold traps according to NASA. Led by Dr. Ariel Deutsch of NASA’s Ames Research Center noted NASA, DISCO will examine how the lunar surface behaves under rocket exhaust and mobility operations, helping researchers understand how much ice is present and how to utilize it as a usable resource stated NASA.
The third investigation, the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station – South Pole (LEMS-SP), will function as an autonomous, long-term environmental and hazard monitoring station according to NASA. LEMS-SP is led by Mehdi Benna of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County reported Aerospace Global News. Together, these selections support NASA’s phased Moon Base program, which relies on robotic missions, cargo deliveries, and autonomous vehicles to build up capabilities ahead of human settlement according to Aerospace Global News.
While NASA has outlined its phased strategy and selected these three scientific investigations, precise mission launch schedules and the exact operational timelines for deploying the GIMLI, DISCO, and LEMS-SP instrument suites to the lunar surface remain unannounced.
Iris Okafor
