Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment

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The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment (LuSEE-Night) is a planned robotic radio telescope observatory designed to land and function on the far side of Earth's Moon. [1] [2] The project is under development by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. [3] If successfully deployed and activated, LuSEE-Night will attempt measurements of an early period of the history of the Universe that occurred relatively soon after the Big Bang, referred to as the Dark Ages of the Universe, which predates the formation of luminous stars and galaxies. [4] The instrument is planned to be landed on the lunar far side as soon as 2026 aboard the Blue ghost lunar lander. [5] [6] LuSEE-Night, not to be confused with a companion lander planned for lunar landing in 2024 named LuSEE-Lite, is to be delivered to the lunar far side by Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). [7]

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References

  1. Talbert, Tricia (March 6, 2023). "NASA, Department of Energy Join Forces on Innovative Lunar Experiment". NASA.
  2. "LuSEE Night".
  3. "Department of Energy and NASA Join Forces on Innovative Lunar Experiment". Energy.gov.
  4. "Lunar Surface Electromagnetic Experiment (LuSEE) - Night | BNL Cosmology & Astrophysics Group". www.cosmo.bnl.gov.
  5. Sutter, Paul M. (January 30, 2023). "Astronomers Prepare to Launch LuSEE Night, A Test Observatory on the Far Side of the Moon".
  6. Bale, Stuart D.; Bassett, Neil; Burns, Jack O.; Jones, Johnny Dorigo; Goetz, Keith; Hellum-Bye, Christian; Hermann, Sven; Hibbard, Joshua; Maksimovic, Milan; McLean, Ryan; Monsalve, Raul; O'Connor, Paul; Parsons, Aaron; Pulupa, Marc; Pund, Rugved; Rapetti, David; Rotermund, Kaja M.; Saliwanchik, Ben; Slosar, Anze; Sundkvist, David; Suzuki, Aritoki (January 24, 2023). "LuSEE 'Night': The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment". arXiv: 2301.10345 [astro-ph.IM].
  7. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/bale4lusee.pdf