NASA selected three instruments for a lunar mission engineers will mount two on a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), and they will reserve the third for a future orbital mission.
NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) is a key element of the Artemis program, marking the return of crewed surface mobility to the Moon for the first time in over five decades. Built to carry two astronauts or operate remotely without a crew, the LTV will support a wide range of scientific and exploratory missions across expansive lunar regions.
“The Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle will carry humanity farther across the Moon than ever before, ushering in a new era of scientific discovery and exploration,” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
“By integrating the strengths of both human and robotic exploration, the selected science instruments aboard the LTV will uncover insights about the Moon that not only deepen our understanding of Earth’s closest celestial neighbor but also enhance astronaut safety and spacecraft performance on the lunar surface.”
AIRES to Unveil Volatile Distributions at the Lunar South Pole
One of these instruments, the Artemis Infrared Reflectance and Emission Spectrometer (AIRES), will analyze, measure, and map lunar minerals and volatile substances materials that easily vaporize, such as water, ammonia, or carbon dioxide. AIRES will gather spectral data superimposed on visible imagery, capturing both detailed targets and wide-area views to reveal how these materials are distributed across the Moon’s south polar region. The instrument is led by principal investigator Phil Christensen of Arizona State University in Tempe.
The Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS) is designed to probe beneath the Moon’s surface and identify potential ice deposits. Equipped with both a spectrometer and ground-penetrating radar, the instrument will assess temperature, density, and underground structures at depths of over 131 feet (40 meters). The L-MAPS team is led by Matthew Siegler of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Together, data from L-MAPS and AIRES will provide a comprehensive view of the Moon’s surface and subsurface composition, offering vital insights for future human exploration. These instruments will also shed light on the Moon’s geological history and help identify its resources such as mineral content, possible ice locations, and long-term surface changes.
UCIS-Moon to Deliver Orbital Insights on Lunar Geology and Volatiles
Alongside the instruments chosen for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle, NASA has also selected the Ultra-Compact Imaging Spectrometer for the Moon (UCIS-Moon) for a future orbital mission. This instrument will offer a broader perspective to complement findings from the LTV. From its vantage point in orbit, UCIS-Moon will map the Moon’s geology and volatile compounds, as well as monitor how these volatiles are influenced by human activity. Additionally, the spectrometer will aid in pinpointing scientifically significant sites for astronaut sample collection, while its wide-field imagery will provide essential context for understanding the locations of those samples.
The UCIS-Moon scientific instruments mwill deliver the highest spatial resolution data yet on the Moon’s surface water, mineral composition, and thermophysical characteristics. Led by Abigail Fraeman from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the UCIS-Moon team aims to provide detailed insights into the Moon’s composition.
“These three instruments together will make major strides in uncovering which minerals and volatile substances exist on and beneath the lunar surface,” said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for Exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
“With UCIS-Moon in orbit and the other instruments aboard the LTV, we’ll be able to study the lunar surface not only where astronauts land and work, but across the entire south polar region opening up exciting possibilities for long-term science and exploration.”
NASA Completes Design Reviews with LTV Vendors to Validate Rover Concepts
In preparation for selecting these instruments, NASA collaborated with all three Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) vendors Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab to complete preliminary design reviews. These reviews confirm that each company’s initial rover design meets NASA’s technical requirements, incorporates the right design choices, identifies key system interfaces, and outlines appropriate verification strategies.
NASA will assess the task order proposals submitted by the LTV vendors and expects to select a provider for the demonstration mission by the end of 2025.
As part of the Artemis program, NASA aims to tackle top-priority science objectives—particularly those best achieved by astronauts working directly on and around the Moon. By integrating robotic systems both on the lunar surface and in orbit, Artemis will drive scientific exploration, promote economic opportunities, and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
Read the original article on: Phys.Org
Read more: Netflix Partners with NASA to Enhance its live Television Content