Improved technology will be taken to the moon by SpaceX, Firefly Aerospace and NASA with a launch tomorrow of the Firefly Blue Ghost 1 mission.
The Next Generation Lunar Retroreflector (NGLR) serves as a target for lasers on Earth to precisely measure the distance between Earth and the Moon. The NGLR will reflect very short laser pulses from Earth-based Lunar Laser Ranging Observatories (LLROs). The laser pulse transit time to the Moon and back is used to determine the distance. The original Apollo retroflectors provided the coordinates for the Moon that we use today. NGLR will greatly improve upon the Apollo results with sub-millimeter range measurements, providing advances in the lunar coordinate system in advance of the Artemis program. The NGLR will support the Lunar Laser Ranging Program for a long-term investigation of lunar physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology. The improved ranging accuracy from NGLR will contribute to bettering our understanding of the inner structure of the Moon and in addressing theories of dark matter.
Type of Instrument: Cube Corner Retroreflector, housing, and mounting structure
Key Measurement: Precise distances to estimate lunar core oblateness, elastic tides, lunar tidal dissipation, Core/Mantle boundary dissipation, free physical librations, lunar cartography, and gravitomagnetism
Lead Development Organization: University of Maryland
Payload PI: Dr. Douglas Currie
The Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder measures natural time-varying electric and magnetic fields from the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere to determine the electrical conductivity profile of the Moon’s interior. This investigation will constrain the temperature structure and history of the Moon, as well as distinguish the “normal” Mare Crisium region from the anomalous western nearside of the Moon (where all of the Apollo landings occurred). The instrument uses components and heritage from several prior missions, including MAVEN, THEMIS, and MSL-RAD.
Type of Instrument: Electrometer and Magnetometer
Key Measurement: The ratio of the electric field spectrum to the magnetic field spectrum at the lunar surface determines the frequency-dependent ground impedance, akin to Ohm’s Law. This in turn allows the depth-dependent conductivity to be recovered.
Lead Development Organization: Southwest Research Institute
Payload PI: Dr. Robert Grimm
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.