NASA has identified three science instruments to support the Artemis lunar exploration program. Two of them are intended for use on the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), and one is reserved for a future lunar orbit mission.
LTV, which is part of the Artemis campaign, will be the first manned rover on the surface of the moon in the last half century. This device, designed to carry two astronauts or remote control, will expand the possibilities of research of the south polar region of the Moon and contribute to the achievement of broad scientific goals.
One of the selected devices, Artemis Infrared Reflectance and Emission Spectrometer (AIRES), will identify and map lunar minerals and volatiles, such as water and ammonia, that evaporate easily. A research team led by Arizona State University's Phil Christensen will combine spectral data with visual images to analyze detailed features and panoramic landscapes.
The second device, Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS), combines spectrometry with GPR, able to explore subsurface layers at a depth of more than 40 meters. L-MAPS will study underground structures, thermal characteristics and potential ice deposits. The project is led by Matthew Sigler from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Together, these two instruments will create complementary data sets, which will reveal the composition of the surface, possible ice reserves and changes in the lunar environment over time. This information is critical to human activity and long-term lunar exploration.
The third device, Ultra-Compact Imaging Spectrometer for the Moon (KILLED-Moon), intended for future placement in lunar orbit. Developed under the direction of Abigail Freiman of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, UCIS-Moon will provide high-resolution images, which will reflect the water content, minerals and thermophysical properties of the surface. Its global overview will provide regional context for the data, derived from LTV, and will help the astronauts in the selection of samples.
These three instruments will significantly advance answers to key questions about minerals and volatiles on the surface and subsurface of the Moon. They will allow to characterize not only districts, where the astronauts will work, and the entire southern polar region of the Moon, opening up new opportunities for scientific discovery and research for years to come.