NASA has recently announced the approval of three new scientific investigations aimed at enhancing our understanding of the Moon’s terrain, radiation levels, and geological history, scheduled for deployment by 2028 under the Artemis program. These studies, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, signify a leap forward in lunar research, emphasizing collaboration with U.S. industries for innovative space exploration solutions. Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, emphasized the importance of these missions for future lunar safety and navigation, stating, “These selections… will expand our knowledge about the Moon’s history and environment, and also inform future human safety and navigation on the Moon and beyond.” The selected payloads include the Emission Imager for Lunar Infrared Analysis in 3D (EMILIA-3D), which will use thermal imaging to create 3D models of the Moon’s surface; the Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER), which aims to analyze the heat flow within the Moon’s interior; and the Site-agnostic Energetic Lunar Ion and Neutron Environment (SELINE), which will study lunar surface radiation and its interaction with the Moon’s soil. These instruments, developed by leading researchers from the University of Arizona, Texas Tech University, and Johns Hopkins University respectively, will provide critical data to enhance our understanding of the Moon. By employing the CLPS framework, NASA continues to leverage commercial sector innovation to support a steady flow of lunar missions, thereby fostering a growing lunar economy and advancing the capabilities for broader space exploration. For more information on NASA’s CLPS and Artemis programs, interested parties can visit NASA’s official website. Post navigation NASA Ignites Space Renaissance