NASA Ready To Develop Earthquake Detection Device On The Moon

Testing of LEMS instruments in sandbox (photo: dock. NASA)

NASA announced that seismometers, seismic wave detection devices, moons are ready to be assembled in the near future. All preparations, including permits, have been completed by the agency.

This lunar seismometer, named LEMS, short for the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station, will be an important payload for the launch of Artemis III. Astronauts will rely on LEMS to find out the ground movement when the moonquake occurs.

The situation on the moon is much different from the situation on Earth. Earthquakes often occur on the Moon so that the activity of astronauts and technology on their surface is often hampered. Therefore, this seismometer is very necessary to support missions.

NASA explained that the moonquake was not only affected by meteorid shocks, but also the shrinking lunar surface and fire. To find out the internal structure of the moon and the dangers of its shocks, NASA will take advantage of LENS capabilities.

"Data from LEMS, which will be recorded for several years after the Artemis III surface mission ends, could help scientists better understand the Moon's internal structure and evaluate seismic hazards for human exploration," NASA said, quoted on Tuesday, April 22.

LEMS will be one of three payloads to take part in the launch of Artemis III. The mission is targeted to launch in 2026. This autonomous payload will be small in size, the size of a gossip bag, and will be installed on the lunar surface for several years.

The US space agency said that LEMS could operate for several years amid extreme lunar weather. The device will work independently by collecting geophysical measurements during the day and night on the Moon.

"LEMS is meant to operate on the lunar surface from three months to two years and can be the main station in the global lunar geophysics network in the future," NASA explained on the official LEMS website.