The ShadowCam instrument will acquire images of the moon’s shadow regions using a high-resolution camera, telescope and highly sensitive sensors. Credits: Arizona State University / Malin Space Science Systems
NASA’s ShadowCam heads to the Moon aboard the Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s (KARI) Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) mission. KPLO, also known as Danuri, launched at 7:08 p.m. EDT on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on August 4.
Developed by Arizona State University and Malin Space Science Systems, ShadowCam is one of five instruments aboard KARI’s KPLO spacecraft.
An ultra-sensitive optical camera, ShadowCam, will collect images of permanently shadowed regions near the Moon’s poles. This will allow ShadowCam to map the reflectance of these regions to look for evidence of ice deposits, observe seasonal changes and measure the terrain inside the craters. The ShadowCam instrument is designed based on previous imaging devices such as those found on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, but is several hundred times more sensitive to light to allow capture of detail in permanently shadowed regions.
Data collected by ShadowCam and KPLO’s other instruments will support future lunar exploration efforts, including Artemis. The high-resolution images captured in extremely low-light conditions could aid in landing site selection and survey planning for future Artemis missions by providing insight into the terrain and lighting conditions, as well as the distribution and accessibility of resources such as water ice, which are useful for long-term stays. ShadowCam data and unprecedented views of permanently shadowed regions can also help scientists learn more about how the Moon formed and evolved and about our solar system.
In addition to ShadowCam, NASA also contributes communications and navigation support to KPLO and science support to the KPLO team through nine NASA-funded scientists. The Republic of Korea (ROK) signed the Artemis agreements last year and continues to cooperate with NASA in lunar exploration efforts.
In the ROK, the orbiter is known as “Danuri” after a public naming contest resulted in a name combining the Korean words for “moon” (dal) and “enjoy” (nuri).
For the next 4.5 months, the KPLO will use a fuel-efficient Korean Ballistic Trajectory in a 62-mile (100 km) lunar polar orbit, where upon arrival it will begin operations on a planned 11-month mission.
NASA Selects ASU’s ‘ShadowCam’ to Fly on Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter More Information: Project Details: www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-sele … inder-lunar-orbiter/ Courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Citation: NASA’s ShadowCam launches aboard the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (2022 August 5) Retrieved August 5, 2022 from
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