NASA Selects EMILIA-3D, LISTER, SELINE for Lunar Science Under Artemis Program

NASA has selected three new lunar science instruments to be delivered to the Moon by 2028 as part of its Artemis programme, marking another step toward sustained human exploration of the lunar surface. The payloads will be transported under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which partners with US companies to deliver scientific and technological instruments to the Moon.

The newly selected instruments are designed to study key aspects of the lunar environment, including surface temperatures, subsurface heat flow, and radiation levels. According to NASA, the data gathered will play a critical role in improving astronaut safety, enhancing navigation on the Moon, and deepening scientific understanding of the Moon’s history and internal structure. NASA official Joel Kearns said the missions would help inform future human activities “on the Moon and beyond”.

One of the payloads, the Emission Imager for Lunar Infrared Analysis in 3D (EMILIA-3D), will focus on creating three-dimensional thermal maps of the Moon’s surface. Using an infrared camera combined with stereo imaging, the instrument will measure temperature variations across different terrains. Scientists expect the data to reveal how heat is distributed in the Moon’s regolith and how surface features influence temperature changes.

Also Read: OnePlus 15 Drops to Rs 68,999 as Amazon Sale Ends Tonight

Another instrument, Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER), will drill below the lunar surface to directly measure heat flowing from the Moon’s interior. By collecting heat-flow data from multiple locations, researchers aim to reconstruct the Moon’s thermal evolution and gain insights into its geological past, according to principal investigator Seiichi Nagihara.

The third payload, Site-agnostic Energetic Lunar Ion and Neutron Environment (SELINE), will examine the radiation environment on the Moon’s surface. It will measure galactic cosmic rays and neutrons generated within the lunar soil, helping scientists better understand space weather conditions that astronauts may face.

Together, the three instruments are expected to provide crucial scientific and operational data, supporting NASA’s broader goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon through the Artemis programme.

Also Read: OnePlus Nord 6 Emerges with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Power