A rendering of Intuitive Machines' Nova-C IM-3 lander on the surface of the Moon.

CP-11 Science Payloads

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander will deliver four NASA CLPS science payloads to Reiner Gamma (South Pole).

Lunar Vertex (LVx)

The Moon’s surface provides a grey background for LVx to roam, emphasized by tire tracks in the rover’s wake. A reflective golden shield completely covers the rover as it sits on four deeply ribbed wheels. Two solar panels are attached at the top of the rover, extending out laterally like a pair of wings.
Artist’s concept of Lunar Vertex’s (LVx) suite of instruments provides an idea of how the rover will operate on the lunar surface as it navigates independently.
NASA/KSC
  • Summary: Lunar Vertex (LVx) is a joint lander and rover payload suite that will land at Reiner Gamma on the lunar nearside, which is also known as a lunar swirl. Scientists know that lunar swirls exist, but we do not know exactly what they are or how they form. We do know they are related to the Moon’s magnetic field. Lunar Vertex will take on some persistent lunar mysteries: the origins of these magnetic anomalies and any relation they might have to the visible swirls. The investigation will look closely at how these areas interact with the solar wind, the high-speed stream of energetic particles from the Sun.
  • Type of Instrument: magnetometers on both the lander and rover, ion-electron plasma spectrometer, cameras on the lander, and a multispectral microscope on the rover.
  • Key Measurement: The origin of lunar magnetic fields and their relation to surface swirls features.
  • Task Order: CP-11
  • Lead Development Organization: Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory
  • Payload PI: Dr. David Blewett

Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE)

A small, motorized robot rolls on the surface of a sandy area. The robot has two large wheels and the one on the right is driving over a large black wheel. The overall color of the rover is a dark black while the sand contrasts as a tan color.
The Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorers (CADRE) are small mobile robots that will explore the lunar surface. As pictured, they can cover terrain and capture data with their radio, stereo camera, lenses, and image sensors.
NASA/JPL
  • Summary: The CADRE robots are a set of shoebox-sized mobile robots that will test autonomous robotic exploration capabilities on the lunar surface. Each robot contains an onboard computer with a wireless radio for communication and a stereo camera – which has multiple lenses and image sensors – for sensing the environment in front of it and capturing 3D imagery. In addition, the rovers will each carry a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) payload to make distributed science measurements.
  • Type of Instrument: Mini-rovers and Ground Penetrating Radar
  • Key Measurement: Testing autonomous roving capabilities
  • Task Order: CLPS CP-11
  • Lead Development Organization: JPL
  • Payload PI: Subha Comandur

ESA's MoonLIGHT Pointing Actuator (MPAc)

A hemisphere shaped payload has a connected stand. Its front face shines in the light while it rests on a black table.
The new generation in retroreflector will advance precision testing of light and laser deflection on the lunar surface, allowing for further advancement in the study of general relativity among other things.
NASA/ESA
  • Summary: Moon Laser Instrumentation for General relativity High accuracy Test (MoonLIGHT) (INFN-LNF) shares its design with the Next Generation Laser Retroreflector NGLR from UMD flying on TO19D. These are 100 mm single, solid, large reflectors and are intended for direct lunar laser ranging from stations in USA, Italy (ASI-CGS) and France (Grasse). Its main applications are geophysics, precision tests of general relativity, and new theories of fundamental relativistic gravity. This array is also currently baselined for the Lunar Geophysical Network (LGN).
  • Type of Instrument: Large reflector
  • Key Measurement: Measure the size, shape, and liquid core of the Moon. Also, a target to measure Earth-Moon distance.
  • Task Order: CLPS CP-11
  • Lead Development Organization: ESA
  • Payload PI: Marco Muccino

KASI's Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM)

lusem.png
LUSEM will seek out the origin of lunar magnetic fields and their relation to surface swirl features.
NASA/KASI
  • Summary: LUSEM will detect high energy particles and monitor variations in the near-surface space environment when the Moon is inside and outside the Earth's magnetotail - the trailing end of the magnetic fields surrounding our planet, which can serve as a buffer for incoming radiation.
  • Type of Instrument: A pair of Solid-State Telescopes (SST)
  • Key Measurement: Charged particles of ≥ 50 keV, separating ions and electrons
  • Task Order: CP-11
  • Lead Development Organization: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI)
  • Payload PI: Young-Jun Choi
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