NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral as part of the Artemis program, will map lunar water distribution, especially in permanently shadowed regions. Built by Lockheed Martin, the 200-kg satellite uses infrared instruments to study water cycles and temperature, supporting future lunar and Mars exploration by enabling resource utilization.
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NASA launched the Lunar Trailblazer satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of its Artemis program to explore lunar resources.
The Lunar Trailblazer satellite, weighing around 200 kg and built by Lockheed Martin, is designed to map water on the lunar surface, particularly in permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the moon’s poles, where ice deposits may exist.
This mission is essential for future lunar exploration, as water can be processed into drinking supplies, breathable oxygen, and hydrogen fuel for rockets.
Map water distribution
Determine the form, abundance, and distribution of water (H₂O/OH) across sunlit and shadowed areas, including in PSRs.
Study lunar water cycles
Investigate how surface temperature influences water movement and identify new cold traps where ice might accumulate.
Support future exploration
Provide high-resolution data to guide astronaut and rover missions, enabling water extraction for drinking, oxygen, and rocket fuel.
High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3)
A NASA JPL shortwave infrared spectrometer that detects water by analyzing reflected sunlight.
Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM)
A University of Oxford mid-infrared imager funded by the UK Space Agency, measuring surface temperature to correlate with water presence.
Resource utilization
Lunar water could sustain long-term bases and enable in-situ production of oxygen and hydrogen fuel, reducing reliance on Earth .
Scientific insights
Studying the Moon’s water origins (comets, solar wind, ancient volcanism) may shed light on Earth’s water history.
The mission is led by Caltech’s Bethany Ehlmann, with operations managed by Caltech/IPAC and engineering support from Lockheed Martin.
Lunar Trailblazer’s data will complement NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), set to explore the South Pole in 2026, and inform Artemis missions targeting lunar habitation by 2025.
This mission highlights NASA’s strategy to leverage lunar resources for sustainable exploration and prepare for Mars missions.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided: Assertion (A): Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) is preferred over kerosene in upper-stage rockets. Reason (R): LH₂ has a higher specific impulse and burns cleaner, producing only water. Which of the options given below is correct? A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A C) A is true, but R is false D) A is false, but R is true Answer: A Explanation: LH₂’s high specific impulse (efficiency) and eco-friendly combustion make it ideal for upper stages, where maximizing payload with minimal fuel is critical. R directly explains A. |
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