Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
Insights from the Lunar Plume Surface Studies
The lunar landscape witnessed a remarkable event as the Firefly Blue Ghost lander operated on its surface for just over 14 days. During this time, the lander provided a unique view of a lunar sunset through one of its Stereo Cameras for Lunar-Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) 1.1. This particular camera captured a striking compressed gif displaying sunlight reflecting off the lander, contributing to an elaborate study of the Moon’s surface characteristics.
The SCALPSS 1.1 camera played a key role in observing the interaction between the lander’s engine plumes and the lunar soil, or regolith. This study aims to offer vital insights as lunar missions become more frequent, focusing on the implications of multiple payloads landing near one another. Throughout its mission, the SCALPSS 1.1 instrument amassed nearly 9,000 images and transferred approximately 10 GB of data back to Earth, significantly enriching the knowledge base concerning lunar environments.
This significant data collection is particularly crucial as exploration of the Moon increases, highlighting the potential challenges and considerations for future missions. The impact of lander engine plumes on the Moon’s surface is one area that will benefit greatly from this research, as accumulated knowledge can lead to improved landing technologies and mission protocols. The findings from SCALPSS 1.1 are expected to advance our understanding of lunar geology and surface behavior under various spacecraft operations.
This project received funding from the Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development program. It was developed at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, with collaborative efforts from the Marshall Space Flight Center located in Huntsville, Alabama, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing lunar exploration technologies.
As lunar exploration evolves, the lessons learned from SCALPSS 1.1 will play a key role in facilitating smoother, safer, and more efficient missions to the Moon and potentially beyond.
Source
www.nasa.gov