NASA moon instrument to return for subsurface volatile survey

Written by Copernical Team Thursday, 01 May 2025 09:27

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 30, 2025

NASA will once again send its Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) instrument to the Moon, this time aboard a commercial rover under a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Magna Petra Corp. The collaboration aims to study gases trapped beneath the lunar surface, with a focus on rare isotopes such as Helium-3. Following its successful performance during th

NASA moon instrument to return for subsurface volatile survey
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 30, 2025

NASA will once again send its Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO) instrument to the Moon, this time aboard a commercial rover under a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Magna Petra Corp. The collaboration aims to study gases trapped beneath the lunar surface, with a focus on rare isotopes such as Helium-3.

Following its successful performance during the Intuitive Machines 2 mission, MSOLO has proven its capability to operate in lunar conditions. The upgraded mission, launching no earlier than 2026, will place MSOLO on a rover selected by Magna Petra. The instrument will analyze low molecular weight volatiles within the lunar regolith, offering insights into the Moon's potential for in-situ resource utilization.

"This new mission opportunity will help us determine what volatiles are present in the lunar surface, while also providing scientific insight for Magna Petra's goals," said Roberto Aguilar Ayala, a research physicist at NASA Kennedy Space Center. He emphasized that understanding lunar volatiles is vital to supporting sustained human exploration by enabling local resource extraction.

Magna Petra aims to locate and eventually recover Helium-3 from the Moon, with the goal of transporting it to Earth for use in fusion energy, quantum computing, health care, and advanced instrumentation. The company will analyze and share data collected by MSOLO in real time with NASA.

The MSOLO device originated as a commercial spectrometer used in semiconductor manufacturing. NASA adapted it for spaceflight to endure the Moon's extreme environment. It previously flew as part of the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment 1.

Under the reimbursable agreement signed April 2, Magna Petra will cover NASA's costs related to integrating MSOLO with the rover, pre-mission preparations, operations support, and technical expertise. NASA will retain ownership of MSOLO throughout the mission. Once the instrument's mission ends, it will remain on the Moon, while its data will be archived in the Planetary Data System for public access.

Research Report:Mass Spectrometer for observing lunar operations (MSolo)