NASA’s MoonFall mission will blaze a path for future science and human exploration of the Moon by sending four JPL-built propulsive drones to survey the lunar surface at potential Artemis landing sites in unprecedented detail. MoonFall will help establish a sustained U.S. presence in the lunar South Pole region.
MoonFall is part of the initial phase of NASA’s Moon Base initiative: a rapid series of robotic missions to scout, experiment, and prepare for astronaut surface operations. Managed by JPL, the MoonFall mission aims to land near the lunar South Pole by 2028.
After launch, the drones will be transported from Earth orbit to the Moon by Firefly Aerospace’s Elytra spacecraft, which will deploy them mid-descent. They will land on the lunar surface individually and operate independently, each using as many as 10 high-definition optical cameras to acquire high-resolution imagery and video of hard-to-reach terrain.
Each drone will use its propulsion system to make multiple flights over the course of a single lunar day (up to 14 Earth days). About 550 pounds including propellant, each drone will be approximately 7 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall.
MoonFall’s Lunar Dashcam imaging system will produce digital terrain maps at significantly higher resolution than current satellite imagery. Additional science instruments include: a laser retroflector array for precisely locating the drones, navigation, and potential geophysical experiments; a neutron spectrometer system to help determine the abundance of subsurface water; and a spectrometer to characterize the radiation environment for future human exploration.
As the lunar night descends and freezes any remaining fuel, preventing future flights, each drone will activate a long-duration payload and remain operational at its final landing site. Able to wake up and communicate with Earth during subsequent lunar daytime periods, this survive-the-night payload will mark a sustained U.S. presence at the South Pole and in the area of operations for Moon Base missions.
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter stands on the Red Planet’s surface as NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover (partially visible on the left) rolls away
Building on the success of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, particularly its autonomous takeoffs and landings, MoonFall will leverage commercial electronics that enable low-cost future production by industry.
Source: NASA