The spacecraft’s Lunar Thermal Mapper science instrument will work with an imaging spectrometer to help researchers understand the nature of water on the Moon’s surface. NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft is nearing completion with the integration of its final cutting-edge science instrument. Th
Peering into the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions, Lunar Trailblazer will detect signatures of water ice in reflected light, and it will pinpoint the locations of micro-cold traps less than a football field in size. Credit: Lockheed Martin
Seen here before being shipped from the U.K. to the U.S., the Lunar Thermal Mapper is one of two instruments that will be carried by NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer. Launching in 2023, the small spacecraft – measuring only about 11 feet wide with its solar panels fully deployed – will also carry the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper .
“The Lunar Trailblazer mission will improve our understanding of our natural satellite and how we could harness its resources to support exploration in the future,” said Libby Jackson, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency. “Backing missions and capabilities that will drive opportunities for humanity to venture deeper into space is one of our priorities, so it’s exciting to see the LTM instrument ready for launch.
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