On the 26th, a photo was taken after the separation phase of the "Athena" (Nova-C), which was launched toward the moon from Florida, USA. The unmanned lunar probe Athena is scheduled to land on the highland "Mons Mouton" near the lunar south pole crater on the 6th of next month. This is the closest location to the south pole among all lunar exploration missions to date. Athena is equipped with the "Polar Resource Ice Mining Experiment" (PRIME-1), a device that combines a drill and mass spectrometer. After landing on the moon, it is designed to drill down to a depth of 1 meter beneath the surface, collect soil, and analyze its composition before sending the data. The goal of Athena is to determine the potential presence of water, gas, and other mineral resources in the lunar south pole. Athena also carries the exploration drone and robot "Micro-Nova Hopper" (nickname Grace), which plans to enter the crater of the lunar south pole to investigate whether there is water ice in the shaded areas.
Published 2025.02.28. 16:53
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