Lunar Rock Stars: NASA Selects Geology Team for the First Crewed Artemis Moon Landing

NASA Picks Geology Team for Historic Artemis Moon Landing

An artistic depiction showcases two astronauts in space suits diligently engaged in lunar surface tasks. While one examines a rock in the foreground, the other captures the collection site in the background through a photograph. Credit: NASA

NASA has designated the Artemis III Geology Team to oversee the scientific strategy for the impending crewed moon landing, with the goal of augmenting our comprehension of the Moon and laying the foundation for forthcoming space endeavors.

NASA has made its choice for the geology team entrusted with formulating the surface science blueprint for the foremost crewed lunar landing mission in over half a century. The forthcoming Artemis III mission from NASA will deploy astronauts, including the first female lunar explorer, near the lunar South Pole, to advance scientific revelations and set the stage for extended lunar exploration.

“Science stands as a cornerstone of Artemis,” commented Dr. Nicky Fox, NASA’s Science Associate Administrator. “This collective will bear the responsibility of spearheading the geological planning for humanity’s initial return to the lunar surface after an interval exceeding five decades, ensuring optimal scientific yield from Artemis, and fostering our comprehension of our closest cosmic neighbor.”

Team and Mission Objectives

Principal investigator Dr. Brett Denevi from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, heads the Artemis III Geology Team. Collaborating with NASA, the team will outline the mission’s geological scientific objectives and devise the geology surface strategy that Artemis astronauts will undertake during this historic mission on the Moon. These goals will be aligned with the pre-established Artemis science priorities.

“Selecting this team signifies a significant stride in our endeavors to optimize the scientific outcomes of Artemis III. This consortium of esteemed lunar scientists possesses demonstrated proficiency in scientific operations, sample analysis, and operational adaptability – all of which are pivotal for successfully integrating science during Artemis III,” remarked Dr. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “With the formation of the Artemis III Geology Team, we affirm NASA’s commitment to constructing a robust lunar science program.”

Team Members and Focus

The Artemis III Geology Team’s additional co-investigators encompass:

• Dr. Lauren Edgar (deputy principal investigator), U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, Virginia
• Dr. Bradley Jolliff, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
• Dr. Caleb Fassett, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland
• Dr. Dana Hurley, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland
• Dr. Gordon Osinski, University of Western Ontario in London
• Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California
• Dr. Jose Hurtado, University of Texas at El Paso
• Dr. Juliane Gross, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey
• Dr. Katherine Joy, University of Manchester in the United Kingdom
• Dr. Mark Robinson, Arizona State University in Tempe
• Dr. Yang Liu, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California

The Geology Team’s primary focus entails choreographing the scientific undertakings of Artemis III astronauts during their lunar excursions. These activities will encompass geological traverses, observations, as well as the collection of lunar samples, visual records, and scientific measurements. Moreover, the team will provide real-time documentation and initial appraisal of scientific data during astronaut lunar operations. Subsequently, team members will scrutinize the data furnished by the mission, including the preliminary examination and categorization of NASA’s first lunar samples collected since 1972.

“The Artemis III Geology Team is uniquely poised to scrutinize samples from the lunar south pole region, thereby aiding in the unraveling of novel insights into the formation of our Solar System. This will also contribute to planning future Artemis missions and the establishment of a sustained lunar presence,” affirmed Jim Free, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.

Scientific Significance and Budget

The retrieval of samples and data from this area, which encompasses some of the Moon’s oldest sections, dating back at least 3.85 billion years, promises to illuminate fundamental planetary processes across the solar system and beyond. The ensuing analysis from the geology team’s pursuits could also yield critical data about the depth, distribution, and composition of ice at the Moon’s South Pole. This information holds significance from both a scientific and resource viewpoint, given that lunar ice can provide oxygen and hydrogen for life support systems and fuel production.

Chosen via a dual-anonymous peer review process, the team will operate with a budget of $5.1 million, dedicated to spearheading the geology aspect of Artemis III.

Integration With Broader Teams

The members of this geology team are an integral part of the larger Artemis Science Team and will collaborate closely with Artemis III Project Scientist, Dr. Noah Petro, and the NASA Artemis Internal Science Team. Additionally, they will collaborate with participating scientists and deployed payload teams, selected through future or ongoing competitive solicitations.

Through Artemis, NASA will not only achieve the historic feat of landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon but will also establish a persistent and sustainable lunar presence, facilitating broader exploration of the lunar surface than ever before and paving the way for future astronaut expeditions to Mars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lunar Exploration

More about Lunar Exploration

• Artemis III Mission Overview
• Artemis Science Priorities
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• NASA Ames Research Center
• Washington University in St. Louis
• University of Western Ontario
• Rutgers University
• University of Manchester
• Arizona State University
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Artemis Lunar Program