NASA announced on Tuesday its choice of three exciting science projects to deepen our understanding of the Moon. These projects are part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the Artemis program. They will be sent to the Moon’s surface starting in 2028.
Joel Kearns, from NASA, emphasizes that this approach taps into U.S. industry creativity and innovation to boost lunar science. These projects will help us learn about the Moon’s history and environment, and importantly, they will guide future human exploration.
Here’s a closer look at the selected projects:
Emission Imager for Lunar Infrared Analysis in 3D (EMILIA-3D): This project will create 3D thermal maps of the Moon using thermal imaging and visible-light cameras. By measuring temperatures, it aims to illuminate the characteristics of the lunar soil—called regolith—making navigation easier. Andrew Ryan from the University of Arizona leads this investigation.
Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER): Designed to probe the Moon’s interior, LISTER will drill into the lunar surface to measure temperature changes and heat flow. A previous version was already tested and provided valuable data. The current version will deepen our understanding of the Moon’s thermal history and is run by Seiichi Nagihara at Texas Tech University.
Site-agnostic Energetic Lunar Ion and Neutron Environment (SELINE): This mission will examine the radiation environment at the lunar surface for the first time, looking into cosmic rays and their interactions with regolith. Drew Turner from Johns Hopkins University is at the helm of this project. The data gathered will be crucial for understanding how to prepare for safe long-term human missions on the Moon.
Interestingly, all three projects do not need a specific landing site to collect their data, giving NASA flexibility in assigning them to delivery missions later.
The CLPS program aims to establish a steady stream of lunar deliveries, helping to foster a growing lunar economy and making space exploration more accessible.
Moreover, recent studies show that investments in lunar exploration are expected to grow, with the market projected to reach $30 billion by 2025, according to a report by the Space Foundation. This reflects a growing interest in addressing challenges related to Moon missions, like radiation safety for astronauts.
For more about CLPS and the Artemis program, visit NASA’s official website.
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Artemis, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), NASA Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate
