Name | Lunar IceCube (Lunar Ice Cube Orbiter) |
---|---|
Type | CubeSat |
Units or mass | 6U |
Status | Operational (Contact made as reported by NASA on Twitter on 2022-11-17 but orbit needs confirmation as of 2022-12-24) |
Launched | 2022-11-16 |
NORAD ID | ? (Not yet catalogued and tracked?) |
Deployer | CSD (Canisterized Satellite Dispenser) [Planetary Systems Corporation] |
Launcher | SLS (Space Launch System) (Artemis-1) |
Organisation | Morehead State University |
Institution | University |
Entity | Academic / Education |
Nation | US |
Oneliner |
Prospect for water ice and other lunar volatiles from a low-perigee lunar orbit |
Description |
Prospect for water ice and other lunar volatiles from a low-perigee lunar orbit flying only 100 km (62 miles) above the lunar surface. Use an innovative RF Ion engine to achieve lunar capture and the science orbit to allow the team to make systematic measurements of lunar water features. The science goals are to investigate the distribution of water and other volatiles, as a function of time of day, latitude, and regolith composition/mineralogy. |
Sources | [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] |
Photo Sources | [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] |
Keywords | Propulsion, Beyond Earth orbit |
Last modified: 2023-01-01
Detailed Lunar IceCube entry in the Database
Full Nanosats Database (much more data)