Mission details
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scope Good essay
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detail |
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release date |
February 26, 2025 (tentative) |
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Rand |
Athena (intuitive machine) |
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Landing point |
Mons Mouton (North Pole near the Moon) |
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Delivery plan |
See more : Observation Skill Test: If you have 50/50 Vision Find the number 43 among 45 in 12 Seconds? NASA’s Commercial Moon Payload Service (CLP) |
Launched no earlier than February 26 @int_machines‘Lunar Lander Athena is heading to the moon! What innovative technology demonstrations are on board?
Find this today at 1 pm ET on our media TV show: https://t.co/1GP7M0IW6U pic.twitter.com/tubxg7up81
– NASA Technology (@nasa_technology) February 7, 2025
NASA’s Polar Resources ICE Excavation Experiment 1 (Prime-1) is designed to explore the moon’s underground to identify potential lunar resources. The mission will provide key insights to support Artemis program and future lunar exploration. Technology developed through Prime-1 is expected to promote long-term human habitation and resource utilization on the moon.
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What is NASA’s main 1 goal?
The purpose of Prime-1 experiment is:
- Demonstrate lunar drilling and sample collection functions.
- Analyze the composition of gases in the moon’s underground.
- Provide basic data for the utilization of lunar resources.
- Support future Artemis missions by identifying stable resources on the moon.
Source: NASA’s Technology
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The meaning of Prime-1
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“The ability to drill and analyze samples simultaneously allows us to gather insights that shape the future that Lunar Resource leverages,” said Jackie Quinn, Prime-1 project manager at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Sustainable exploration, Prime-1’s discovery will help develop the life-sustaining supply needed for long-term lunar missions.
What techniques and tools are used in NASA’s Prime-1 mission?
Two main tools on the Prime-1 mission will evaluate lunar soil and extract key data to enhance our understanding of the lunar environment:
- Regolith and Ice Drill for exploring new terrain (Trident): drill into the moon’s surface to collect samples.
- Observe the mass spectrometer of the Lunar Operation (MSOLO): Analyze the collected samples at different depths of gas composition across different depths.
These technologies will pave the way for resource extraction and future human missions. Let’s learn more about these technologies:
Source: NASA’s Technology
Trident exercise
Developed by Honeybee Robotics (Blue Origins). Drill height 3.3 feet (1 m) deep into Lunar Regolith. Collect 4 inches (10 cm) of samples each. Equipped with carbide cutting teeth to penetrate hard lunar materials. Provides data on underground temperature and mechanical properties.
MSOLO mass spectrometer
Developed by Inticon and modified at the Kennedy Space Center. Gases such as water vapor and other volatiles released from the drilling sample were detected. Helps determine the potential of lunar resources for future missions.
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Impact on future moon missions
The data collected will guide sustainable lunar resource extraction. Understanding the composition of trapped gases and thunder soil helps predict resource availability. Prime-1’s insights will support habitat development and future lunar colonies.
NASA’s CLPS Initiative
Prime-1 is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS), an initiative that promotes commercial partners for the moon’s delivery. Under the leadership of CLP, NASA is the primary but not the only client, thus promoting the commercial lunar industry.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion