The new instruments and technologies were selected through NASA’s Lunar Payload and Survey Research (PRISM) program. They will be delivered to the lunar surface through the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative as part of the Lunar Base Program.

Each expedition will address a different challenge involved in creating a permanent human presence on the Moon. Researchers will search for potential shelters, identify resources available to astronauts, and study the hazardous conditions that future habitats and equipment must withstand. The findings will support NASA’s Artemis and Lunar Base programs as they prepare for long-term lunar exploration.

“NASA Science is building the ultimate interplanetary survival guide to ensure that science reaches the Moon’s surface first to proactively provide future astronauts with the critical information, resources and safety measures they need to survive a lunar night,” said Nicky Fox, deputy administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“These PRISM selections will directly help NASA maximize the agency’s goals while minimizing risk to NASA’s astronauts as it establishes humanity’s first lunar outpost in preparation for sending the first astronauts to Mars.”

1. Monitoring moonquakes and other lunar hazards

The first expedition, the Lunar Environmental Monitoring Station–Antarctica (LEMS-SP), will establish an autonomous station to track lunar environmental conditions and potential threats over time.

One of its missions will be to detect micrometeorites, tiny pieces of space debris that strike the Moon’s surface. Unlike Earth, the Moon does not have an atmosphere strong enough to burn up most incoming objects, creating potential risks for future facilities and habitats.

The station will also measure the abundance of volatile substances—materials that easily turn into gas—in the Moon’s extremely thin outer gas layer. Monitoring these materials will help scientists understand how the lunar environment changes over time.

Another key instrument is a short-period seismometer designed to detect vibrations and seismic activity, including moonquakes. These measurements could reveal hazards NASA must consider when designing structures and installing sensitive equipment on the lunar surface.

By collecting data on impacts, seismic activity and the surrounding environment, LEMS-SP will help engineers develop safer, more reliable infrastructure for a permanent lunar base.

The study will be led by Dr. Mehdi Benna of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

2. Searching for a hidden lunar cave

The second expedition will investigate one of the Moon’s most intriguing possibilities: a large underground passage that could serve as a natural shelter for astronauts.

Known as the Marius Lunar Pit Investigation Geophysical Instrument (GIMLI), the mission will study the Marius Hills Pit, an opening on the Moon that may be connected to extensive underground lava tubes.

Lava tubes form when the outer surface of flowing lava cools and solidifies while molten lava continues moving beneath it. When the lava drains away, it can leave behind hollow tunnels. Scientists believe similar geological formations may exist beneath some of the Moon’s volcanic terrain.

GIMLI will use geophysical measurements to investigate what lies beneath the pit and determine whether it connects to a larger underground passage. The mission will also provide new insights into the volcanic processes that shaped the lunar landscape.

Large underground spaces could offer important advantages for future human exploration. The Moon’s surface is exposed to extreme temperature changes, harmful ionizing radiation and frequent impacts from small space rocks. Underground lava tubes may provide more stable temperatures and natural shielding from these hazards.

Future astronauts may be able to use existing geological formations as shelters instead of relying entirely on protective structures built on the surface. Confirming the existence and scale of these underground spaces could influence where NASA places future habitats and how those habitats are designed.

Dr. Nathaniel Putzig of the Planetary Science Institute will serve as GIMLI’s principal investigator.

3. Searching for hidden lunar ice and usable resources

The third expedition will focus on a resource that could be essential for humans to persist on the Moon: water ice.

The Depth Imager with Spectral and Color Optics (DISCO) payload is designed to take the first direct measurements from the icy lunar surface, where ice is preserved inside small, extremely cold regions known as micro cold traps.

These areas receive little or no direct sunlight and can remain cold enough to retain ice. Determining where the ice is located, how much exists and how it is distributed could help scientists assess whether it may become a viable resource for future lunar missions.

Water transported from Earth is expensive to launch into space. Usable lunar ice could eventually allow astronauts to obtain water locally and process it into oxygen and hydrogen for other purposes.

DISCO will also investigate the physical properties of the lunar surface. One challenge is understanding what happens during landing, when rocket exhaust can blow dust and debris off the ground and impact nearby equipment and structures.

Researchers also plan to study terrain stability to better understand how astronauts, robotic vehicles and other equipment can safely navigate the Moon’s surface.

Together, these measurements will help NASA develop safer landing and surface operations while advancing technologies for turning lunar ice into a useful resource for future lunar base programs.

Dr. Ariel Deutsch of NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will lead the DISCO study.

Building the foundation for humanity’s first lunar base

Together, the three investigations will address some of the most important challenges involved in establishing a sustained human presence beyond Earth.

• LEMS-SP will help scientists understand environmental threats, including micrometeorite impacts and moonquakes.
• GIMLI will investigate whether underground lava tubes can provide natural protection for astronauts and lunar habitats.
• DISCO will study potential water resources and the behavior of the lunar surface.

The results could affect everything from the layout of future habitats to the development of equipment and systems that allow astronauts to use resources already available on the Moon.

“Each new PRISM selection enhances our ability to deliver ambitious, innovative science to the lunar surface,” said Brad Bailey, director of the Exploration Science Strategic Integration Office in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

“These studies exemplify how Artemis and the Lunar Base are expanding the frontiers of lunar exploration, advancing innovative technologies, deepening our understanding of the lunar environment, and paving the way for future astronaut missions.”

NASA is working to increase the frequency of lunar missions in preparation for building a lunar base. These missions will deliver scientific instruments and new technologies aimed at extending U.S. leadership in space science, supporting a sustained presence on the Moon and preparing for more ambitious human exploration.

The agency’s CLPS initiative plays a central role by partnering with U.S. companies to deliver science, exploration and technology payloads to the lunar surface and orbit.

Knowledge gained from these studies could prove essential to NASA’s long-term goal of sending humans to Mars, as well as helping astronauts live and work on the Moon.