NASA Selects Three Instruments for Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle

NASA has selected three new scientific instruments to advance lunar exploration as part of its Artemis program, with two instruments slated for the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) and one for a future orbital mission. The LTV, the first crew-driven vehicle on the Moon in over 50 years, will carry up to two astronauts or operate remotely to explore wide lunar areas, particularly focusing on the Moon's south polar region. The instruments include the Artemis Infrared Reflectance and Emission Spectrometer (AIRES), which maps minerals and volatiles; the Lunar Microwave Active-Passive Spectrometer (L-MAPS), which uses ground-penetrating radar to detect subsurface ice and measure lunar soil properties; and the Ultra-Compact Imaging Spectrometer for the Moon (UCIS-Moon) for orbital high-resolution imaging. Concurrently, researchers in China have developed a 3D printing system utilizing lunar soil as the sole building material to fabricate habitats and infrastructure on the Moon, aiming to support sustainable, large-scale lunar exploration by minimizing material transport from Earth. These technological advances in lunar surface vehicles, scientific payloads, and habitat construction collectively aim to enhance human presence and scientific discovery on the Moon.