“Unveiling Lunar Secrets: How Lunar Trailblazer Will Revolutionize Our Understanding of Water on the Moon”

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

At the beginning of next year, a rocket is set to launch from Florida, destined for the moon. This rocket will transport a spacecraft named Lunar Trailblazer, which aims to orbit the moon in search of water. Our acquaintance Joe Palca has been conversing with the scientist responsible for this mission for years, and he has a preview.

JOE PALCA: The moon is primarily a rather arid location. However, approximately 14 years ago, multiple teams of researchers discovered indicators that, indeed, there was some water present there.

BETHANY EHLMANN: When we discuss water on the moon, we aren’t referring to lakes or oceans or any water bodies you could jump into for a swim, not even a puddle for splashing around.

PALCA: Bethany Ehlmann serves as a professor of planetary science at Caltech. She is the principal investigator for Lunar Trailblazer.

EHLMANN: We’re referring to water in solid form, as ice. We’re potentially talking about minor quantities of water as vapor or gas. But what we’re truly focusing on is a type of water that doesn’t often cross our minds, which is water tied to rocks.

PALCA: Individual water molecules bonded to the minerals within the rocks. As it orbits the moon, Lunar Trailblazer is equipped with tools that should assist scientists in understanding the nature of the water and generating maps of its locations. There is also a chance that Lunar Trailblazer’s tools will indicate that there is less water on the moon than scientists suspect. However, that hasn’t deterred space mining entrepreneurs who see an opportunity in lunar water – aiming to use it to sustain future moonwalkers.

EHLMANN: Occasionally, I will enter a room and discuss Lunar Trailblazer – we are going to assess how much water is on the moon and where it can be found. Sometimes I encounter individuals who assert, oh, we know water exists on the moon at the poles, and here is how I plan to mine it. And I respond, well, that’s intriguing. I’m not convinced there’s water there, but go ahead (laughter).

PALCA: Constructing any spacecraft is challenging and costly. It requires various specialized components, such as thrusters, instruments, and solar panels. However, these are not the main factors that make space missions expensive.

EHLMANN: The largest portion of expenses for any spacecraft mission is, by far, the labor of the people involved. We do not launch the money into space. Every dollar invested in a spacecraft mission is allocated right here on Earth.

PALCA: Compared to other space missions, Lunar Trailblazer is quite affordable. Its budget is in the tens of millions of dollars. In contrast, NASA’s flagship lunar project, Artemis, is costing tens of billions of dollars. But part of NASA’s strategy to keep Lunar Trailblazer economical was to be strict about maintaining its budget. So two and a half years ago, when Ehlmann realized the project was exceeding its budget by several million dollars, her anxiety surged.

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EHLMANN: It’s a bit after 4 AM, and it’s my 14th or 15th consecutive day waking up somewhere between 3:30 and 4:30, fully alert, with Lunar Trailblazer on my mind.

PALCA: Ultimately, NASA located some additional funds to address the overruns. Since we began our discussions two years ago, Ehlmann has informed me of a variety of challenges mission engineers have encountered – issues with the spacecraft’s electronics, problems with components failing during vibration stress evaluations, and complications with its main engine. Nevertheless, NASA now asserts that all the hardware is functioning correctly, and Lunar Trailblazer is prepared to embark to the moon and explore what type of water truly exists there.

For NPR News, I’m Joe Palca.

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