Three MIT Payloads Aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket, Bound for the Moon
NASA’s Artemis III Mission: A Step Toward Establishing a Permanent Base on the Lunar Surface
In the coming days, weather permitting, MIT engineers and scientists will send three payloads into space, on a course set for the moon’s south polar region. Scientists believe this area, with its permanently shadowed regions, could host hidden reservoirs of frozen water, which could serve to sustain future lunar settlements and fuel missions beyond the moon.
Payloads and Technologies
The payloads include two novel technologies — a small depth-mapping camera and a thumb-sized mini-rover — along with a wafer-thin "record," etched with the voices of people from around the world speaking in their native languages. All three payloads will be carried by a larger, suitcase-sized rover built by the space contractor Lunar Outpost.
Depth-Mapping Camera and Mini-Rover
The depth-mapping camera, mounted on the front of the rover, will take the first-ever 3D images of the lunar landscape captured from the surface of the Moon using time-of-flight technology. These images will beam back to Earth, where they can be used to train Artemis astronauts in visual simulations of the polar terrain and can be incorporated into advanced spacesuits with synthetic vision helmets.
The mini-rover, dubbed "AstroAnt," will wheel around the roof of the main rover and take temperature readings to monitor the larger vehicle’s operation. If successful, AstroAnt could work as part of a team of miniature helper bots, performing essential tasks in future missions, such as clearing dust from solar panels and checking for cracks in lunar habitats and infrastructure.
Lunar Landing and Mission Objectives
The lunar landing, which engineers anticipate will be around noon on March 6, will mark the first time MIT has set active technology on the moon’s surface since the Apollo era. The mission’s objectives are to identify the presence and amount of water-ice on the moon’s south pole, using a combination of instruments, including an ice drill mounted to the lander, and a robotic "hopper" that will bounce along the surface to search for water in hard-to-reach regions.
SEI’s Roots and Mission
MIT’s part in the lunar mission is led by the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI), a research collaborative within the Media Lab that aims to enable a "sci-fi future" of space exploration. The SEI was founded in 2016 by media arts and sciences alumna Ariel Ekblaw SM ’17, PhD ’20, and develops, tests, and deploys futuristic space-grade technologies that are intended to help humans establish sustainable settlements in space.
Conclusion
The MIT payloads will provide data about the lunar surface that can help prepare Artemis astronauts for navigating the frozen terrain. The mission is a significant step toward establishing a permanent presence on the lunar surface and beyond. As Dava Newman, Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics at MIT, director of the MIT Media Lab, and former NASA deputy administrator, notes, "Our goal is not just to visit the moon but to build a thriving ecosystem that supports humanity’s expansion into space."
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the MIT payloads?
A: The payloads will provide data about the lunar surface, which can help prepare Artemis astronauts for navigating the frozen terrain.
Q: What are the two novel technologies included in the payloads?
A: The payloads include a small depth-mapping camera and a thumb-sized mini-rover, dubbed "AstroAnt."
Q: What is the HUMANS project?
A: The HUMANS project is a 2-inch disc made from a silicon wafer engraved with nanometer-scale etchings using technology provided by MIT.nano. The engravings are inspired by The Golden Record, a phonograph record that was sent into space with NASA’s Voyager probes in 1977. The HUMANS record is engraved with recordings of people from around the world, speaking in their native languages about what space exploration and humanity mean to them.
Q: What is the purpose of the HUMANS record?
A: The HUMANS record is a powerful reminder that space is not the privilege of a few, but the shared legacy of all. It carries the hopes, dreams, and stories of people from all backgrounds.
