{"id":464756,"date":"2026-05-02T09:57:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T09:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/464756\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T09:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T09:57:24","slug":"the-moons-south-pole-is-hiding-something-and-nasa-is-sending-drones-to-find-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/464756\/","title":{"rendered":"The Moon’s South Pole Is Hiding Something, and NASA Is Sending Drones to Find It"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA is developing a fleet of four robotic drones (known as MoonFall) to survey the lunar south pole before any crewed missions arrive. The initiative is part of a broader overhaul of the agency\u2019s Artemis program <\/strong>announced earlier this year. The drones are designed to photograph and map rough lunar terrain, helping mission planners identify viable landing sites and locations for future surface infrastructure.<\/p>\n

A Scouting Mission Built on Mars Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

The MoonFall project is being led by NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where engineers are drawing heavily on the technical knowledge accumulated through the Ingenuity helicopter, the robotic rotorcraft that completed 72 flights<\/strong> on Mars as part of the Perseverance rover mission.<\/p>\n

Ray Baker<\/a>, the project lead at JPL, described the approach as an extension of what Ingenuity demonstrated. \u201cWe get to stand on their shoulders,\u201d Baker told Space.com<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019re going to marry our success from Ingenuity, all that knowledge, all that skill and success, and couple that with an industry capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each of the four drones will carry a set of ten cameras and science instruments, bringing the total to 40 sensor packages deployed across the lunar south pole region. Imagery from each vehicle will be combined to produce a composite view of the moonscape, which planners intend to use when selecting landing sites for Artemis crews and positioning lunar base hardware. Baker said the target is for each drone to cover roughly 30 miles<\/strong> of terrain by the end of 2028.<\/p>\n

Like Ingenuity, which relied on commercial off-the-shelf electronics comparable to those found in mobile phones, the MoonFall drones will incorporate hazard detection and avoidance systems. As each drone approaches a landing site, it will assess the local terrain independently and select the safest available spot.<\/p>\n

Timeline and Industry Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n

The MoonFall initiative gained formal momentum on March 24, when NASA administrator Jared Isaacman <\/a>announced it as part of what the agency called its \u201cIgnition<\/strong>\u201d event, a public presentation outlining a restructured path back to the moon. A Request for Proposals was issued the same day, and JPL is now moving to bring commercial partners on board.<\/p>\n

According to Baker, the agency expects to have its primary industry partners selected by June of this year. Prototype hardware is already in development, with captive carry tests ( used to evaluate navigational and control sensors) planned for later in 2025. Spacecraft integration and testing is scheduled for late summer of 2027, with delivery to the launch site set for 2028.<\/p>\n

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To build a\u00a0sustained human presence on the Moon,\u00a0we are building @NASAMoonBase<\/a>,\u00a0prioritizing surface operations\u00a0and scalable infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2013 Frequent robotic landings and mobility testing\u00a0including\u00a0MoonFall\u00a0drones\u00a0
\u2013 Starting in 2027\u00a0nearly monthly\u00a0cadence of equipment and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/3T00Y450kO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (@NASAAdmin) March 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One notable aspect of the mission design is that the drones <\/strong>will be released mid-descent above the moon rather than being delivered by a dedicated propulsive lander. Baker said this approach reduces both cost and mission risk, while allowing the project to take advantage of industry-provided systems for the transfer and braking stages, as well as drone propulsion. \u201cAs such, this mission fits well within the [NASA] administrator\u2019s objectives of reducing costs for more shots on goal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The cost of MoonFall has not yet been disclosed. According to Baker, NASA <\/a>is still working out budgetary details, though he expressed confidence in the project\u2019s feasibility. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fast-paced. We believe we can do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The specific landing site at the lunar south pole has not yet been selected. NASA has identified the region as a priority for Artemis <\/strong>operations, in part because of scientific interest in permanently shadowed craters that may contain water ice, a resource with potential implications for long-duration surface missions.<\/p>\n

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