UCF Teams Up with NASA and Firefly Aerospace for an Exciting 2028 Lunar Adventure!

Editor’s note: This article is made available through a content collaboration between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

The University of Central Florida’s Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE) payload will be transported by Firefly Aerospace in 2028 for a scientific and exploratory mission focused on examining the Gruithuisen Domes located on the moon’s near side.

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The multi-instrument payload, developed by BAE Systems alongside Arizona State University, is set to collect data concerning the moon’s surface over a span of 10 Earth days. This research will examine the formation of silica-rich volcanic features to gain insight into the geological processes of early planetary bodies and how these might serve as resources for future exploration.

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Lunar-VISE includes two stationary and three mobile instruments designed to analyze rocks and regoliths on the apex of one of the domes. The payload is anticipated to undergo system integration and acceptance reviews in August as a final procedure to confirm that “all components are appropriate and secure for the intended operations.”

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