NASA has selected three scientific investigations to support future lunar exploration and the planned Moon Base. The payloads will study the Moon’s environment, underground structures and potential water-ice resources.

They were selected through NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon, or PRISM, program. The investigations are planned for delivery through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative under NASA’s Artemis campaign.

Three Investigations Target Key Lunar Risks

The Lunar Environment Monitoring Station-South Pole, or LEMS-SP, will monitor the lunar environment over long periods. It is designed to track micrometeoroids, volatile materials and seismic activity. The data could help researchers assess hazards that may affect future lunar surface systems.

The Geophysical Investigation for Mapping Lunar Interior, or GIMLI, will study the Marius Hills Pit. NASA identifies the pit as a possible opening into a lunar lava tube. GIMLI will investigate whether an underground structure exists below the site.

The Distribution of Ice and Surface Characteristics Observatory, or DISCO, will make ground-based measurements of ice in extremely cold lunar regions. It will also study surface stability and the effects of rocket exhaust on lunar soil.

Why Lunar Ice And Lava Tubes Matter

NASA has identified permanently shadowed lunar regions as important areas for studying water ice. Because sunlight does not reach some of these locations, extremely cold conditions can allow ice to remain preserved.

Lava tubes are also being studied as potential locations for future exploration. Their underground structures could provide natural protection from radiation, extreme temperature changes and micrometeoroid impacts. GIMLI will first determine whether the Marius Hills Pit connects to such a structure.

Science Before Long-Term Human Operations

NASA says the investigations will provide information about lunar resources, environmental conditions and potential hazards before astronauts conduct longer-duration operations on the Moon.

The new payloads are part of NASA’s wider effort to use robotic missions to gather scientific and engineering data before expanding human activity on the lunar surface. The lunar South Pole remains a major focus because of its unusual lighting conditions, rugged terrain, extreme temperatures and potential water-ice resources.