NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer to Map Water on the Moon

On 26th February 2025, NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to study water deposits on the moon’s surface.

Key Points

Mission Objective: The satellite will map and analyze water in permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles, aiding future moon missions.
Scientific Importance: Understanding lunar water sources could provide insights into the origin of Earth’s water and support human exploration.
Satellite Specifications: Built by Lockheed Martin, the 200 kg satellite spans 3.5 meters when deployed and will orbit at 100 km altitude.
Key Instruments: The Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) will measure surface temperature, while the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) will detect water signatures.
Potential Water Sources: Lunar water may originate from solar wind interactions with lunar minerals or deposits from comets and meteorites over billions of years.