TO2-IM

Intuitive Machines's Nova-C lunar lander launched on February 15, 2024 to deliver 6 NASA CLPS science payloads to Malapert A. It landed on February 22, 2024. Click here for more information.

A rendering of Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander on the surface of the Moon with Earth visible in the background

Lunar Node 1 Navigation Demonstrator (LN-1)​

The Earth and Moon hover against a dark background on opposite sides. On the Moon, graphics represent a rover and landers. A satellite is positioned above Earth, representing a “ground station,” while instruments positioned on the Moon represent rovers and landers. A CubeSat hovers over the Moon. A network of data sharing occurs between the objects, represented by arrows and red wavy lines. They are pointing in different directions to indicate communications between the objects.
This is a lunar navigation concept of operations with Multi-spacecraft Autonomous Positioning System (MAPS) Algorithm Implementation. It demonstrates a network of communication amongst local surface and orbital operations. Transfers of MAPS algorithms are represented by dotted arrows while GPS signals are indicated by black and red waves.
NASA/MSFC

Summary: CubeSat-sized flight hardware experiment that integrates navigation and communication functionality for autonomous navigation to support future surface and orbital operations. LN-1 uses Multi-spacecraft Autonomous Positioning System (MAPS) algorithms and standard GPS-like navigation signal (specifically, one-way pseudonoise ranging codes), which is akin to using GPS on Earth. Through installation of S-band beacons on the surface, this local navigation network would act like a series of lighthouses and help guide incoming vehicles to land with high precision, departing vehicles to insert themselves into an accurate orbit and reduce their fuel requirements, orbital vehicles maintain knowledge of their orbit, and direct autonomous vehicles across a planetary surface. These beacons could be deployed as hosted payloads on mobile and static assets or as independent infrastructure.

Type of Instrument: Navigation beacon

Key Measurement: Transmits multiple types of radio signals that can be used to measure distance

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP)

Lead Development Organization: NASA MSFC

Payload PI: Dr. Evan Anzalone

Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS)

A set of four cameras mounted on a metal wheel, along with control circuitry and processing units, undergo vibration testing in a lab. For some reason, there is a tape dispenser that appears to be from the 70s in the background. I imagine this wasn't part of the experiment.
SCALPSS undergoing environmental testing in the lab.
NASA/LaRC
A graphic image of the landing process SCALPSS will capture. Orange, yellow, and green streaks extend downward from a grey lander toward the surface, which represents a column of exhaust gases. The colors abruptly transition at the surface to a bright blue ring surrounded by turquoise; these represent materials from the lunar surface that will rise and be spurred into movement by the lander’s engines while it descends. The turquoise forms what appears to be mounds of dust that surround the landing area.
This generated model represents the type of 3D images the SCALPSS cameras will produce. The orange, yellow, and green column is plume (column of exhaust gases) from the engines during landing/descent. The turquoise and blue represent displaced dust from the lunar surface.
NASA/LaRC
SCALPSS is hovering near the ground above a sizable dust cloud caused by lander plume. The shape of the structure consists of four silver spheres clustered adjacent to each other, with each sphere containing a camera. Two pairs of adjoined legs extend down from the bottom. In the background, a blue-sky is visible.
SCALPSS is being tested at Kennedy Space Center. The system is a suite of four identical cameras designed to capture coverage of the lander plume and its effects on the surface below. This demonstration mimics the coverage SCALPSS will get in a lunar landing, which will include 3D images.
NASA/KSC

Summary: SCALPSS will use four cameras (two stereo pairs) that will capture video and still image data of the lander’s descent engine plume of dust as the plume starts to impact the lunar surface until after engine shut off. Data will be used to assess the effect of the engine plumes on the landing site, the landing vehicle, and nearby assets and sites, resulting in better predictive capabilities to lower risk and ensure landing success, which is critical for future lunar and Mars vehicle designs. SCALPSS leverages camera technology used on the Mars 2020 rover.

Type of Instrument: Cameras

Key Measurement: video and still images - validation data for plume-surface interaction analysis. Returns data for the onset, rate, shape, and volume of the plume crater formation.

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP)

Lead Development Organization: NASA LaRC

Payload PI: Michelle Munk

Radio-wave Observations at the Lunar Surface of the photo Electron Sheath (ROLSES)

Four sensors sit on a table connected with a series of silver-colored wires. Each sensor consists of a silver base plate with a black cylinder attached at a 45-degree angle. At the end of the cylinder sits a silver flat plate, which angle varies from sensor to sensor.
ROLSES will determine the density of the electron sheath of the Moon using a low-frequency radio receiver system. It will also have the capability to detect a few events that are present in the solar system, such as, solar radio bursts, radio emission from Jupiter, etc.
NASA/GSFC

Summary: Just above the surface of the Moon is a very, very thin layer (or sheath) of electrons that come in part from electrons that are knocked out of individual lunar dust/regolith molecules by photons of UV light from the Sun during the daytime, and in part from the solar wind (electrons and ions). At twilight, this can charge lunar dust, so it levitates and creates a hazy horizon. The ROLSES payload will employ a low-frequency radio receiver system to determine the density of this electron sheath. The instrument is a low-frequency radio spectrometer to provide radio spectra (from 10 kHz - 10 MHz, or possibly 30 MHz) ~0-2 m above the lunar surface, using antennas at 1 m and 2 m above the surface. ROLSES will also detect solar radio bursts, radio emissions from Jupiter, dust impacting the surface of the moon, and how radio noisy Earth is. These measurements will aid future exploration missions by demonstrating the plasma environment astronauts or other exploration systems will encounter on the Moon and a baseline for a sensitive future radio observatory on the Moon.

Type of Instrument: Low-frequency radio astronomy receiver system

Key Measurement: Electron sheath density and scale height; radio emissions from the Earth, Sun, and planets; dust impacts

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP)

Lead Development Organization: NASA GSFC

Payload PI: Dr. Nat Gopalswamy

Navigation Doppler Lidar for Precise Velocity and Range Sensing (NDL)​

Three telescopes are sitting to the left of the payload which is the shape of a rectangular box. The telescopes are a dark blue color all mounted on the same piece of equipment. The payload box is a silver grey with black knobs on the front side.
NDL is pictured with its three telescopes (left) and the chassis that contains the electronics and photonics (right).
NASA/LaRC
The black background contrasts with the light grey graphic surface of the moon. The simulated lander starts in a sideways position in the top left corner then slowly starts to turn and get lower to the surface step by step. There are four images of the lander until it lands on the surface. The last lander position hovers over a small yellow circle, indicating the dispersion ellipse.
Artist’s concept of a lander descending to the lunar surface with assistance from NDL and its predicted dispersion ellipse.
NASA/LaRC

Summary: NDL is a LIDAR-based (Light Detection and Ranging) descent and landing sensor. This instrument operates on the same principles of radar but uses pulses of light from a laser instead of radio waves. NDL measures vehicle velocity (speed and direction) and altitude (distance to ground) with high precision during descent from over 5 km altitude to touchdown. NDL consists of a chassis containing electronics and photonics and an optical head with three small telescopes for transmitting laser beams and collecting the returns from the ground. The chassis and the optical head are connected by 3 fiber-optic cables. NDL measurements allow for precision navigation to the designated landing location and enable a tightly controlled soft touchdown on the surface of the Moon and other planetary bodies.

Type of Instrument: Guidance and navigation sensor

Key Measurement: Velocity (speed and direction) and altitude (distance to ground) from 5 km altitude

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP)

Lead Development Organization: NASA LaRC

Payload PI: Dr. Farzin Amzajerdian

Radio Frequency Mass Gauge (RFMG)

Summary: Antennae that are installed inside the liquid oxygen and liquid methane fuel tanks of the lander to gauge the quantity of liquid fuel as it is used. A goal of long-range space missions in the future is the ability to use cryogenic propellants.

Type of Instrument: Low-gravity propellant quantity gauge

Key Measurement: The mass of fuel in the lander’s fuel tanks

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP)

Lead Development Organization: NASA GRC

Payload PI: Dr. Greg Zimmerli

Laser Retroreflector (LRA)

The device is a gold-colored ball with a large square flat plate running through the middle and out the sides of the sphere. The gold-colored sphere is hollow with many holes going through it. These holes have a black edge as well as are equidistant from one another.
The Laser Retroreflector (LRA) is pictured with its gold painted aluminum hemisphere and eight cube prism retroreflectors. This will then be mounted on the lander deck to which will help precision measurement of the distance between orbiting or landing spacecraft.
NASA/GSFC
The Moon’s surface is presented in grey hues with black space in the background. An orbiter is hovering above the surface with graphic images to represent the laser for measurements. There are three orbiters to represent the different positions possible in orbit. In the center of the crater, on the surface of the moon, sits a yellow star to represent the lander’s position.
This generated image shows how the LRA will be located on the surface of the Moon so orbiting spacecraft can retroreflect to find a precise distance.
NASA/GSFC

Summary: A retroreflector bounces any light that shines on it directly backward (180 degrees from the incoming light). The LRA is a collection of eight of these, each a 1.25-cm diameter glass corner cube prism, all embedded in an aluminum hemisphere (painted gold as shown here) and is mounted to the lander deck. This design ensures that the LRA can retroreflect (i.e., bounce) laser light from other orbiting and landing spacecraft over a wide range of incoming directions and efficiently retroreflect the laser signal directly back at the originating spacecraft. This enables precision laser ranging, which is a measurement of the distance between the orbiting or landing spacecraft to the LRA on the lander. The LRA is a passive optical instrument and will function as a permanent fiducial (i.e., location) marker on the Moon for decades to come. (Note: this LRA design is too small for laser ranging from Earth).

Type of Instrument: Passive optical device that reflects laser light directly backward (for laser ranging)

Key Measurement: Precise distances

Task Order: CLPS TO2-IM (2/20C/OP), TO2-AB, TO20A-VIPER, and PRIME-1

Lead Development Organization: NASA GSFC

Payload PI: Dr. Xiaoli Sun