NASA is partnering with Intuitive Machines, one of its 14 vendors, to launch a commercial robotic flight to the Moon under the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and the Artemis campaign. The mission aims to carry out scientific research and demonstrate technologies to help us better understand the Moon’s environment and improve landing precision and safety in the challenging conditions of the lunar south polar region.
The Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission will carry six NASA payloads targeted for the South Polar region. The payloads will collect data on how the plume of engine gasses interacts with the Moon’s surface and kicks up lunar dust, investigate radio astronomy and space weather interactions with the lunar surface, test precision landing technologies, and measure the quantity of liquid fuel in Nova-C propellant tanks in the zero gravity of space.
The Nova-C lander will also carry a retroreflector array that will contribute to a network of location markers on the Moon that will be used as position markers for decades. The Nova-C lander is targeted to land Thursday, February 22, in a relatively flat and safe area near the Malapert A crater in the south polar region of the Moon.
The NASA instruments aboard IM-1 will pave the way for future Artemis astronaut missions. This is a significant step forward in understanding the lunar south pole, one of the least explored regions on the Moon. By collecting data and testing new technologies, scientists and engineers hope to make future Artemis missions safer and more efficient.
These are the six NASA payloads aboard Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 mission:
LN-1 (Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator)
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This device will aid NASA scientists in gaining a better understanding of how to navigate and communicate in the harsh lunar surface environment.
LRA (Laser Retroreflector Array)
It is a set of eight retroreflectors that can accurately measure the distance between a spacecraft in orbit or landing on the Moon and a reflector on the lunar surface.
This passive optical instrument, LRA, will be a permanent location marker on the Moon for many years and provide valuable insights into the lunar environment. The LRA will also enhance the precision and safety of Moon landings by enabling NASA scientists to understand the Moon's terrain better.
NDL (Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing)
NASA has developed a descent and landing sensor called the NDL, which uses Lidar technology to measure the velocity and altitude of a vehicle during descent to the lunar surface.
The NDL emits laser pulses through three optical telescopes, similar to radar, to provide precise measurements. This instrument will aid NASA scientists in gaining a better understanding of how to land on the challenging lunar terrain safely.
RFMG (Radio Frequency Mass Gauge)
A rocket propellant gauge measures the amount of spacecraft propellant in a low-gravity space environment. Using sensor technology, RFMG will measure the amount, or mass, of cryogenic propellants in Nova-C’s tanks, providing data that can help predict propellant usage on future missions. This instrument will help NASA scientists better understand how to manage resources on the lunar surface.
ROLSES (Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the Photoelectron Sheath)
A system comprising four antennas and a low-frequency radio receiver to analyze the dynamic radio energy environment near the surface of the Moon. The primary objective of this system is to investigate the interactions between natural and human-generated activities near the lunar surface and scientific research.
Additionally, it can detect radio emissions from the Sun, Jupiter, and Earth, as well as dust impacting the Moon's surface. The research conducted using this instrument will aid in developing better communication techniques in challenging lunar surface conditions.
SCALPSS (Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies)
NASA will be equipping its lunar lander with four cameras that will capture stereo and still images of the dust plume created during the descent to the lunar surface. This instrument will be extremely useful for NASA scientists as it will aid in better understanding the impact of lander-generated dust plumes on the lunar surface.
The CLPS initiative began in 2018 as an innovative approach connecting NASA with commercial solutions from American companies to deliver scientific, exploration, and technology payloads to the Moon’s surface and into lunar orbit. Through CLPS, NASA aims to gain new insights into the lunar environment and expand the lunar economy to support future crewed missions under the Artemis campaign.
This mission is a significant step forward in understanding the Moon’s environment and will pave the way for future Artemis missions. By collecting data and testing new technologies, scientists and engineers hope to make future missions to the Moon safer and more efficient.
