The instrument, called Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations, or MSOLO, is intended to measure lightweight volatile substances on a commercial rover selected by Magna Petra. NASA says the measurements may help researchers infer whether rare isotopes such as helium-3 are present in lunar dust. The company hopes eventually to collect helium-3 and bring it to Earth for uses including nuclear fusion and quantum computing. [S1]
Under the agreement signed April 2, 2025, Magna Petra will reimburse NASA for costs including rover integration and testing, mission preparation and operations, and engineering, avionics and software expertise. NASA will work with the company on integration, while the partner will analyze and share data with the agency in real time. [S1]
NASA will retain ownership of MSOLO throughout the mission. The agency says mission data will be submitted to the Planetary Data System for public dissemination. MSOLO began as a commercial instrument used in semiconductor manufacturing; NASA says adapting that existing device helped keep development costs down. [S1]
Source documents
- NASA Moon Observing Instrument to Get Another Shot at Lunar Opshttps://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/kennedy/nasa-moon-observing-instrument-to-get-another-shot-at-lunar-ops/