NASA will be voyaging to the dark side of the moon

The mission is part of a programme to introduce a long-term base on the moon.

[June 14, 2021: Sofia Mahirova]

NASA is planning a mission to the dark side of the moon.

The space agency has announced three commercial delivery missions to the moon’s surface, stretched across multiple trips per year. Two of these trips will focus on the far side, or the ‘dark side’, of the moon.

One of those expeditions will carry two seismometers (an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes) as part of the preparation for the Artemis program to put astronauts back on the moon and establish a long-term base there. The other will deliver the Lunar Instrumentation for Thermal Exploration with Rapidity pneumatic drill as well as the Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder, which will be used to investigate heat flows and electrical conductivity of the Schrödinger basin – a large impact crater near the lunar South Pole.

“These investigations demonstrate the power of CLPS to deliver big science in small packages, providing access to the lunar surface to address high priority science goals for the Moon,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, in a statement.

“When scientists analyse these new data alongside lunar samples returned from Apollo and data from our many orbital missions, they will advance our knowledge of the lunar surface and interior, and increase our understanding of crucial phenomenon such as space weathering to inform future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond.”

Elsewhere, NASA‘s Curiosity Rover has captured images of the rare, iridescent clouds that exist on Mars.

According to a NASA press release, the clouds are rare on the Red Planet owing to its dry, thin atmosphere. Clouds can typically be seen on the planet’s equator during the time Mars is farthest from the sun.

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Tags: #New_Innovation, #NASA, #Space, #Moon, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News


Joseph Shavit
Joseph ShavitSpace, Technology and Medical News Writer

Joseph Shavit
Head Science News Writer | Communicating Innovation & Discovery

Based in Los Angeles, Joseph Shavit is an accomplished science journalist, head science news writer and co-founder at The Brighter Side of News, where he translates cutting-edge discoveries into compelling stories for a broad audience. With a strong background spanning science, business, product management, media leadership, and entrepreneurship, Joseph brings a unique perspective to science communication. His expertise allows him to uncover the intersection of technological advancements and market potential, shedding light on how groundbreaking research evolves into transformative products and industries.