By 
October 5th, 2020
Moon orbiting Lunar Flashlight.
Credit: NASA/JPL
A set of diminutive, high-tech probes have these rousing names: Lunar IceCube, Lunar Flashlight, LunaH-Map and Lunar Trailblazer.
While the missions have differing observational and measurement strategies as they orbit the Moon, each spacecraft provides a unique perspective on lunar water distribution.
LunaH-Map probe and principal investigator Craig Hardgrove of Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration.
Credit: ASU
On one hand, researchers are confident the Moon’s polar regions are enhanced in volatiles. Still, there remain some unknown unknowns about the form and physical distribution of these volatile species.
For more information on these missions and the task ahead, go to my new Space.com story at:
Tiny moonbound spacecraft have very big goals – A coming suite of small probes will help scientists better understand the Moon’s stores of water ice.
Posted in Space News
