The Korean Aerospace Research Institute's 'Lunar Surface Radiation Detector (LVRAD)' is set to be launched to the Moon's south pole aboard a U.S. private lunar lander in 2030.
On August 14, the institute announced that it signed an implementation agreement with NASA for the transportation of LVRAD on the lunar lander as part of the 'Commercial Lunar Payload Services' program.
LVRAD is designed to measure cosmic radiation on the lunar south pole. It consists of a radiation dose and spectrometer to measure radiation penetration and a neutron spectrometer to assess the neutron environment. The data collected will be used to analyze the effects of radiation on the lunar lander and astronauts during both manned and unmanned missions.
The institute plans to complete the development of the flight model by 2027 and transport it to the U.S. in line with NASA's lunar lander schedule. The launch is scheduled for 2030, but it may change depending on NASA's timeline. NASA will support the operation and data transmission of the detector on the lunar surface after the launch.
However, the schedule for the payload is not solely determined by the Korean side. The private lunar lander carrying LVRAD is being developed by Intuitive Machines, which will include a total of seven scientific instruments, including LVRAD.
Oh Tae-seok, head of the Korean Aerospace Research Institute, stated, "This implementation agreement will further solidify the collaboration between the institute and NASA for future lunar base development. We will continue to expand international cooperation to enhance lunar exploration technologies and strengthen our contributions to the global space science community."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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