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A state-of-the-art camera developed by scientists at the University of Oxford is set to embark on its first mission to assist in locating water on the Moon. The Lunar Thermal Mapper, installed on NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, will utilize thermal imaging technology to identify the location and quantity of water on the Moon. By measuring the Moon’s surface at different times of the day, the spacecraft will track any changes in the amount of water present. It will determine whether the water transforms into a gas as the surface heats up or accumulates in shadowed regions as it cools down.

The scientists from Oxford’s Department of Physics believe that the discovery of water on the Moon could have various applications, including purification for drinking water, fuel processing, and generating breathable oxygen. The camera will work in conjunction with a high-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper, also installed on the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft.

The mission aims to further our understanding of how water is transported across the Moon’s surface and potentially captured in cold traps near the lunar poles. Libby Jackson, the UK Space Agency’s head of space exploration, expressed optimism that this mission will bring scientists closer to harnessing the Moon’s natural resources to support future expeditions.

The Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2024, and the data collected from its mission will inform and shape future space exploration endeavors.

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