NASA plans to explore the far side of the moon. This was confirmed after the independent space organization chose a new commercial partner for the lunar mission.
Recently, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration confirmed that it selected Firefly Aerospace as its new partner to explore the far side of the moon.
This new partnership will allow NASA to use the American private aerospace company's lander called Blue Ghost.
NASA to Explore Far Side of Moon Using Blue Ghost
According to Digital Trends' latest report, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost will help NASA deliver payloads to the moon.
Among these payloads is a radio observation mission, which will land on the far side of the moon. Once this radio is in its targeted location, it will minimize the radio noise coming from the Earth.
This can create a natural radio quiet zone, which can help the LuSEE-Night telescope (Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment-Night) to detect weak radio signals emitted by the cosmic dark ages; an early period of the universe.
"This lunar landing should enable new scientific discoveries from the far side of the Moon during the lunar night," said NASA Science Mission Directorate Deputy Associate Administrator Joel Kearns.
He added that the payloads of Blue Ghost are expected to act as pathfinders for future observations.
Blue Ghost's Payloads
NASA's official blog post explained the specific details of the payloads that the Blue Ghost lander will carry to the far side of the moon.
There will be a total of three payloads:
- Lunar Pathfinder: A communications and data relay satellite that will provide communication services to lunar missions.
- User Terminal: This payload will institute a new standard for S-Band Proximity-1 space communication protocol and establish space heritage.
- Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment-Night: A pathfinder to understand the Moon's radio environment and to potentially take a first look at a previously unobserved era in our cosmic history.
If you want to learn more details about the new collaboration between NASA and Firefly Aerospace, you can click this link.
In other news, a NASA rocket team will try to find giant hurricane-like swirls. We also reported on NASA's investments in 3D printing and quantum technologies.
For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space missions, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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