时间:2025-09-17 12:22:04 来源:网络整理编辑:熱點
The moon's north and south poles are in constant nightfall, with sunken places in these regions neve
The moon's north and south poles are in constant nightfall, with sunken places in these regions never receiving a drop of direct sunlight.
NASA wants astronauts to explore near the lunar south pole as early as 2025 because the area is thought to have ice buried below the surface. If the frozen water there could be excavated and collected, it would be an important resource for human explorers. Scientists say something as basic as H2O could potentially be converted into oxygen, drinking water, and fuel.
But studying these permanently shadowed craters from space presents an obvious challenge: How do you map out the details of the terrain in darkness?
Through a partnership with South Korea, NASA is now getting bright, detailed images of potential landing sites. The Korean spacecraft Danuri, which launched last summer, has orbited the moon since December 2022. A camera on the orbiter was designed specially to take super light-sensitive photos of the environment.
The so-called ShadowCam, funded by NASA, is 200 times more sensitive to light than its predecessor technology onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Even without direct sunshine, the instrument can pull in light dimly reflected off nearby mountains and crater rims. Arizona State University and Malin Space Science Systems developed the camera.
ShadowCam is on the hunt for ice, taking photos that will help mission planners scope out potential areas rich with deposits. Scientists will study seasonal changes and take measurements within the darkened moon craters.
"Future missions in deep space will be safer and more affordable if we have the capability to harvest lunar resources," said Jason Crusan, NASA's former director of advanced exploration systems, in a 2017 statement. "ShadowCam has the potential to greatly increase our understanding of the quality and abundance of those resources in these regions."
Want more scienceand tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newslettertoday.
The photos should ultimately help NASA narrow down where to drill. In August 2022, the agency announced 13 potential south pole landing sites for the Artemis III mission, the first to send astronauts to the lunar surface in a half-century. While on the moon for nearly a week, the astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color to walk on the moon, would collect samples to bring home for analysis.
Since Danuri arrived at the moon, it has begun snapping test photos to get calibrated. It recently took a picture of a lunar dimple known as Shackleton Crater. The image is so bright, the team can make out fine details like the tracks of a 16-foot-wide boulder that skidded down the steep crater wall to the floor.
Shadowcam has proven it can indeed see better in the dark than NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter camera. A side-by-side comparison (above) shows how the new camera, right, captures the interior of the crater.
Because this crater is relatively small, the temperature gets a little too warm in the summer to keep ice stable, rising above -261 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a recent Arizona State post on the project.
"This area is not the most likely host for frost or ice at the surface," the post said. "Perhaps elsewhere in this crater where temperatures are lower, there might be ice or frost waiting to be seen."
TopicsNASA
Here's what 'Game of Thrones' actors get up to between takes2025-09-17 12:18
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 52025-09-17 11:36
How to use 'Share My Date' on Tinder2025-09-17 11:16
iPad Air 2024: 2 new features that iPad Air 2022 doesn't have2025-09-17 10:59
Chinese gymnastics team horrifies crowd with human jump rope2025-09-17 10:46
Lyft deal: Spend $100, save $15 on a Lyft gift card2025-09-17 10:40
iPad Air 2024: 2 new features that iPad Air 2022 doesn't have2025-09-17 10:37
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 212025-09-17 10:36
More than half of women in advertising have faced sexual harassment, report says2025-09-17 10:29
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 202025-09-17 10:23
Singapore rolls out video2025-09-17 12:16
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 162025-09-17 11:53
Cicadas love to land on people. Experts explain why.2025-09-17 11:18
Apple iPad Pro 2024: Thinner and lighter than ever2025-09-17 11:11
Man stumbles upon his phone background in real life2025-09-17 11:07
Microsoft unveils Copilot Agents, an AI business assistant2025-09-17 11:02
NASA shows how it will talk to spacecraft over 15 billion miles away2025-09-17 10:46
A parent's guide to Skibidi Toilet: What is it and why is it so popular?2025-09-17 10:20
This app is giving streaming TV news a second try2025-09-17 09:46
Buy a Google Pixel 8a, get a $100 Amazon gift card2025-09-17 09:41