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On February 26, a cutting-edge thermal imaging camera developed by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics was launched towards the Moon as a crucial component of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission. This initiative is focused on mapping the Moon’s water sources to enhance understanding of the lunar water cycle, which will aid in planning for future robotic and crewed missions.
The spacecraft, which weighs around 200 kilograms and is comparable in size to a washing machine, is set to map the Moon’s surface temperature and composition up to twelve times daily with a resolution of 50 meters. Equipped with advanced technology, it will analyze features of interest such as the permanently shadowed craters at the Moon’s South Pole, which are believed to house substantial amounts of water ice—potentially around 600 million metric tons. This water could be essential for various applications, including providing drinking water, as well as being processed for fuel and breathable oxygen for future explorations.
One of the spacecraft’s key instruments, the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM), was designed and constructed by the Planetary Experiments Group at Oxford. This instrument will measure both the temperature of the lunar surface and the mineral composition of the landscape, helping to confirm water presence and location. The LTM will collaborate with NASA/JPL’s High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) to produce the most detailed maps of lunar water ever created. (Further details on instrument operations are available below)
Chosen as part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program in 2019, the Lunar Trailblazer mission allows low-cost scientific spacecraft to accompany major missions. It will launch as a secondary payload aboard a lunar lander mission facilitated by Intuitive Machines, effectively utilizing the larger mission for its journey. If the launch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center proceeds without issues, initial images from the LTM are expected to be transmitted back to Earth within three days.
The spacecraft’s relatively modest propulsion system necessitates a unique trajectory that leverages the gravitational forces of the Earth, Moon, and Sun to reach its designated orbit—a method known as low-energy transfer. Initially, the rocket booster will propel the spacecraft beyond the Moon and into deep space, harnessing gravitational pulls to guide it back. Small thruster firings will be employed to fine-tune its orbital path until it settles approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the lunar surface. This entire process is projected to take between four and seven months.
The LTM’s development was supported by £3.1 million in funding from the UK Space Agency and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). For the Planetary Experiments Group, crafting the LTM marks a significant milestone in their extensive 50-year legacy of creating components for space missions, including those to Mars, Saturn, and the Moon. The collaborative nature of this project, involving various academic institutions and businesses in the UK, underscores the country’s prominent role in the advancement of space exploration and scientific inquiry.
Professor Neil Bowles, who serves as the Instrument Scientist for the LTM at the University of Oxford, expressed the significance of the mission:
“The Lunar Thermal Mapper was designed, built, and tested here in Oxford, and the launch represents a pivotal moment for our entire team. The temperature measurements will play a crucial role in confirming water signals identified by HVM3 and together, the instruments will reveal intricate details about the Moon’s composition that were previously only suggested.”
This mission has the potential to elucidate the origins of water on the Moon. Hypotheses include impacts from comets and ‘wet asteroids’, ancient volcanic activity releasing water vapor, or hydrogen from the solar wind interacting with lunar oxygen. Lunar Trailblazer is poised to provide insights into which of these theories holds more validity.
Lauren Taylor, Major Projects Lead from The UK Space Agency, remarked:
“The UK Space Agency is excited to contribute to NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission. Our collaboration with the University of Oxford to develop the Lunar Thermal Mapper highlights the UK’s prominent position in space exploration and scientific research.”
“This mission will generate vital data about the Moon’s water resources, aiding future human missions and deepening our understanding of the lunar environment.”
Additional Information on the Lunar Thermal Mapper’s Functionality:
The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft houses two primary instruments: the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) and the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3). Together, they are set to create high-resolution maps of lunar water and clarify the Moon’s water cycle.
The LTM, built in Oxford, will utilize four broadband infrared channels to measure lunar surface temperatures ranging from approximately -163°C to 127°C. Additionally, it will employ eleven narrow infrared channels to detect slight variations in the composition of the Moon’s silicate minerals, offering deeper insights into the surface’s composition and potential water locations.
Simultaneously, the HVM3, developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory with NASA funding, will identify and map the variety, abundance, and locations of water across the lunar terrain by analyzing spectral fingerprints of reflected sunlight. The temperature readings taken by the LTM will calibrate the HVM3 spectral data, ensuring accuracy in measuring water absorption signals.
As the Lunar Trailblazer catalogs the Moon’s surface throughout day and night, it will track changes in water presence, whether transitioning into gas with heat or accumulating as frost in colder, shadowed areas. This mission seeks to resolve critical questions about the potential of water being trapped within lunar rocks and the significant volumes of water ice that may exist in the Moon’s permanently shaded craters.
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