Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper

Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper
Rendering of the LunaH-Map spacecraft
NamesLunaH-Map
Mission typeLunar orbiter
OperatorArizona State University
COSPAR ID2022-156J
SATCAT no.57685
Websitelunahmap.asu.edu
Mission duration96 days (planned)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftLunaH-Map
Spacecraft typeCubeSat
Bus6U CubeSat
ManufacturerArizona State University
Launch mass14 kg (31 lb)[1]
Dimensions10 cm × 20 cm × 30 cm (3.9 in × 7.9 in × 11.8 in)
Start of mission
Launch date16 November 2022, 06:47:44 UTC[2]
RocketSLS Block 1
Launch siteKSC, LC-39B
ContractorNASA
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSelenocentric orbit (planned, never achieved)
RegimePolar orbit
Periselene altitude5 km (3.1 mi)
Inclination90°
Period10 hours

LunaH-Map mission logo
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Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper, or LunaH-Map, was one of the 10 CubeSats launched with Artemis 1 on 16 November 2022.[2][3] Along with Lunar IceCube and LunIR, LunaH-Map will help investigate the possible presence of water-ice on the Moon.[1] Arizona State University began development of LunaH-Map after being awarded a contract by NASA in early 2015. The development team consisted of about 20 professionals and students led by Craig Hardgrove, the principal investigator.[4] The mission is a part of NASA's SIMPLEx program.[5]

Probably due to months of launch delays of the Artemis I spacecraft after CubeSats had already been installed on its rocket,[6] the propulsion system failed to fire when needed to insert the probe into lunar orbit. The satellite thus failed its primary science mission, but successfully demonstrated its neutron spectrometer technology, which will be used on future missions.[7]

  1. ^ a b Harbaugh, Jennifer (2 February 2016). "LunaH-Map: University-Built CubeSat to Map Water-Ice on the Moon". nasa.gov. NASA. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b Roulette, Joey; Gorman, Steve (16 November 2022). Dunham, Will; Wallis, Daniel; Doyle, Gerry; Stonestreet, John (eds.). "NASA's next-generation Artemis mission heads to moon on debut test flight". Reuters. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ Clark, Stephen (12 October 2021). "Adapter structure with 10 CubeSats installed on top of Artemis moon rocket". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ^ Cassis, Nikki (25 August 2015). "ASU chosen to lead lunar CubeSat mission". asunow.asu.edu (Press release). Arizona State University. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration Program Abstracts of selected proposals" (PDF). 8 August 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. ^ Jeff Foust (17 February 2023). "Deep space smallsats face big challenges". Space News.
  7. ^ Katyanna Quach (8 August 2023). "NASA's ice-hunting cubesat lunar mission is over, thanks to a stuck valve". The Register.