Science Experiments that Astronauts will Deploy on the Moon

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NASA announced that it has selected 7 new experiments that might be carried to the Moon as part of the Vision for Space Exploration. Each of these missions would be "suitcase science" experiments, which the astronauts could easily deploy them onto the surface of the moon as part of a mission.

The experiments include:

  • Autonomous Lunar Geophysical Experiment Package - NASA/JPL
  • Lunar Laser Transponder and Retroreflector Science - NASA/JPL
  • Volatile Analysis by Pyrolysis of Regolith on the Moon using Mass Spectrometry - NASA/Goddard
  • Seismology and Heat flow instrument package for Lunar Science and Hazards - NASA/Goddard
  • Lunar Radiation Environment and Regolith Shielding Experiment - SWRI
  • Lunar Suitcase Science: A Lunar Regolith Characterization Kit - U.S. Army
  • Autonomous Lunar Dust Observer - Ball Aerospace

NASA chose these winning proposals out of 70 submissions under the Lunar Sortie Science Opportunities Program.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today, founding the website in March 1999. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast.