Before astronauts can spend long periods on the Moon, NASA needs to answer some very basic questions: Where can they find useful resources? What could protect them from the lunar environment? And what perils lie beneath their feet? NASA has selected three new scientific studies that will help answer these questions as it strives to set up its very first Moon Base.
The three payload suites will investigate different parts of the lunar environment. One will monitor hazards around the surface, another will look beneath the ground for possible lava tubes, and a third will search for ice while studying how the surface behaves during future lunar operations.
