Moon Landings: A New Era in Lunar Exploration Beckons
London, United Kingdom: In early 2024, two commercial spacecraft are poised to embark on a historic journey to the Moon, marking the first private company-led lunar landings. Under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS) initiative, these missions could herald a transformative era in commercial lunar exploration and scientific endeavors.
Launched by NASA in 2018, CLPS aims to establish a commercial transportation service capable of delivering NASA experiments and payloads to the lunar surface. Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, two companies initially invited to join the program, are set to make history with their upcoming lunar missions, anticipating landing within a week after liftoff.
The initial launch, slated to be NASA's first flight of 2024, will feature the Peregrine lunar lander, constructed by Astrobotic, with a potential launch date as early as January 8. About the size of a medium garden shed, the Peregrine will carry various experiments, including a laser retro-reflector array for precise lander positioning and spectrometers to study lunar radiation and search for water signatures in the soil.
One of Peregrine's spectrometers, the Neutron Spectrometer System, will specifically investigate hydrogen-containing materials, indicating potential subsurface water, crucial for future human exploration.
The second spacecraft, Nova-C lander, designed by Intuitive Machines, is scheduled for a mid-February launch. Similar in volume to Peregrine but with a hexagonal cylinder shape, Nova-C will carry instruments such as a laser retro-reflector array and a suite of cameras to capture a 3D image of its landing site, aiding scientists in assessing material displacement during the descent.
Nova-C's "radio observations of the lunar surface photo-electron sheath" (Rolses) instrument will examine how the lunar atmosphere and surface dust influence radio waves, crucial for understanding the challenges posed by electrically charged dust particles to future lunar explorers.
The missions' landing sites also hold scientific significance. Peregrine aims for the bay on the west side of Mare Imbrium, known as Sinus Viscositatis (Bay of Stickiness), near the intriguing Gruithuisen Domes. The composition difference between the domes and surrounding plains raises questions about the Moon's geological history.
Nova-C is targeting Malapert A crater, close to the Moon's south pole, a region shielded from sunlight, potentially preserving stable water ice delivered by comets over time—a valuable resource for future lunar activities.
In addition to NASA payloads, both spacecraft carry private investor payloads, such as DHL's "Spacebox" on Peregrine, transporting personal items from paying customers, and Nova-C's "The Humanity Hall of Fame," a list of names to be sent to the Moon for posterity.
As these pioneering missions unfold, they set the stage for an exciting new chapter in lunar exploration, driven by increased private sector involvement. The success of these early endeavors may well mark the beginning of a commercial lunar renaissance.
Authors: Gareth Dorrian, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in Space Science, University of Birmingham Ian Whittaker, Senior Lecturer in Physics, Nottingham Trent University