LunaH-Map group (L-R) Joe DuBois, Tyler O’Brien, Nathaniel Streubel, Craig Hardgrove (NASA Principal Investigator). Credit: ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration
The Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper (LunaH-Map) mission is likely one of the tiniest NASA planetary science missions however has huge science objectives. Previous missions and research have recognized the presence of water-ice on the Moon’s poles. However, there are nonetheless unanswered questions on how a lot water-ice is contained inside completely shadowed areas.
It can also be unknown how a lot water-ice is perhaps retained at depth all through illuminated areas of the lunar South Pole. LunaH-Map will reply these questions by getting into orbit across the Moon and producing a neutron map that can reveal the place and the way a lot water-ice is hidden throughout the lunar South Pole.
LunaH-Map will assist us perceive the origins of water on the Moon and the way it has been redistributed for the reason that Moon’s formation. The maps may also be used to plan future missions and touchdown websites for robotic and human water-ice prospecting.
CubeSat will discover and map water ice on the Moon’s South Pole. Credit: ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration
What we hope to study from the LunaH-Map CubeSat. Credit: ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration
NASA’s moon-observing CubeSat is prepared for Artemis launch
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