A miniaturized laboratory developed by The Open University (OU) with support from RAL Space will fly to the lunar South Polar region in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Prospect package in search of volatiles, including water ice, as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
A miniaturized laboratory developed by The Open University (OU) with support from RAL Space will fly to the lunar South Polar region in the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Prospect package in search of volatiles, including water ice, as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
NASA has selected Intuitive Machines to deliver six payloads that will deepen our understanding of the moon and answer key questions about where and how volatiles can be found on the lunar surface. Volatiles, such as water ice, are chemical components that easily evaporate or vaporize under certain conditions.
Prospect is a suite of instruments that will drill up to at least 1 meter depth beneath the lunar surface, extract samples, and process them in a mini lab, ProSPA. The combination of robotic drill and sample analysis package is designed to identify volatiles trapped beneath the surface at extremely cold temperatures down to –150°C.
Chris Howe, Production and Software Group Leader at RAL Space, said, « The technology behind ProSPA is the result of years of collaboration between RAL Space and the Open University, and we’re delighted that this latest milestone is bringing the instrument one step closer to the moon.
« ProSPA will not only build on the legacy of previous projects, such as PITMS, but the insights we gain from it will also support future missions advancing our understanding of the lunar surface.
