959
NASA's PRIME-1 mission, scheduled for February 2025, will explore the Moon's resources, using drilling to study the soil and possible water deposits.
PRIME-1 is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program and will land near the Moon’s south pole using Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander. The mission’s primary objective is to determine the availability of resources, including water ice, that could support long-term human habitation on the Moon. The mission will utilize two innovative instruments: Honeybee Robotics’ TRIDENT Drill and the MSOLO mass spectrometer, developed by INFICON and NASA.
The MSOLO mass spectrometer will analyze gases emitted from the lunar soil, helping scientists better understand the composition of the surface. The data collected will contribute to the Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon.
The results of the PRIME-1 mission could be the key to “sustainable lunar exploration” and providing resources for future deep space expeditions.
