{"id":468183,"date":"2023-07-25T15:59:20","date_gmt":"2023-07-25T19:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=468183"},"modified":"2023-09-27T18:33:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T22:33:34","slug":"lunar-flashlight","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/lunar-flashlight\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Lunar Flashlight?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Small Spacecraft Technology<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/smallsat_overview\/\">About<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/technology-demonstrations\">Technology Demonstrations<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/smallsat-technology-partnership-initiative\/\">Partnerships<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/solicitations\/\">Work with Us<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/sst-resources\">Resources<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/\">S3VI<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is Lunar Flashlight?\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"lunar flashlight\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 51% 7%; object-position: 51% 7%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg 9600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=300,226 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=768,578 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=1024,770 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=1536,1156 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=2048,1541 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=400,301 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=600,451 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=900,677 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=1200,903 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?resize=2000,1505 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Update May 11, 2023: <\/strong><\/em><em>While the CubeSat couldn\u2019t reach the lunar South Pole to help seek ice, it fulfilled several technology goals that will empower future missions for the benefit of humanity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s Lunar Flashlight <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/news\/nasas-lunar-flashlight-has-launched-follow-the-mission-in-real-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">launched<\/a> on Dec. 11, 2022, to demonstrate several new technologies, with an ultimate goal to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/news\/nasas-lunar-flashlight-smallsat-readies-for-launch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seek out<\/a> surface ice in the permanently shadowed craters of the Moon\u2019s South Pole. Since then, the briefcase-size satellite\u2019s miniaturized propulsion system \u2013 the first of its kind ever flown \u2013 proved unable to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/news\/nasas-lunar-flashlight-team-assessing-spacecrafts-propulsion-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">generate enough thrust<\/a> to get into lunar orbit, despite months of effort by the operations team. Because the CubeSat cannot complete maneuvers to stay in the Earth-Moon system, NASA has called an end to the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Before Artemis astronauts land on the Moon, a small spacecraft called Lunar Flashlight, one of several planned missions to the Moon, will use lasers to help determine the presence and nature of water ice at the bottom of some of the Moon\u2019s craters. The availability of water is an essential local resource for future crews to use for drinking water and fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While in orbit around the Moon, Lunar Flashlight will use its lasers to survey for signs of water ice as it passes low over regions of the lunar South Pole that are in permanent darkness. It will distinguish water ice from dry soil, called regolith, by observing whether light reflects off of the crater surfaces (indicating regolith) or is absorbed (indicating water ice deposits). Determining the availability of naturally occurring resources such as volatiles like water, carbon dioxide, and methane that may be frozen on the Moon is important for mission designers. Future missions could use local resources instead of transporting the entirety of materials to build and sustain remote human outposts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lunar Flashlight will be the first planetary spacecraft to use a \u201cgreen\u201d monopropellant, or a chemical propellant that does not require a separate oxidizer to burn, called Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT). ASCENT provides significantly enhanced performance at a lower level of toxicity than hydrazine, a conventional propellant. Lunar Flashlight will also be one of the first CubeSats to study the surface of the Moon \u2013 an important next step to demonstrate the capability and suitability of CubeSats as an adaptable platform for future exploration and science missions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Earlier this year, NASA\u2019s Lunar Flashlight mission underwent tests to prepare it for launch in November 2022. The solar-powered small satellite is shown here with its for solar arrays extended in a Georgia Tech clean room.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/lunar-flashlight-0.jpg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Lunar Flashlight spacecraft during testing.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/JPL-Caltech<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional Benefits of Lunar Flashlight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lunar Flashlight demonstration mission will contribute to major advances in miniaturized spacecraft technology for planetary exploration. A successful Lunar Flashlight mission, compounded with the success of the CubeSat missions launching on NASA\u2019s Artemis 1 Moon mission, would demonstrate that small spacecraft are a viable solution for exploring the Moon and other parts of the solar system for a lower cost and development timeframe compared to missions with larger spacecraft. This has important implications for human space exploration, planetary science, heliophysics, and other fields of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This mission will not only further investigate the location and concentration of possible water ice, as suggested by earlier NASA projects such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moon_Mineralogy_Mapper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moon Minerology Mapper<\/a>,  <a href=\"https:\/\/solarsystem.nasa.gov\/missions\/clementine\/in-depth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clementine<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/solarsystem.nasa.gov\/missions\/lunar-prospector\/in-depth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lunar Prospector<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/a>, but it will also enhance our understanding of the Moon\u2019s environment. Lunar Flashlight\u2019s survey of lunar volatiles may provide insight into the Moon\u2019s evolution and interaction with its environment that includes exchanges with comets and asteroids \u2013 containing similar volatile substances \u2013 and the solar wind. The volatile deposits found in the permanently dark, cold craters on the Moon\u2019s surface \u2013 called cold traps \u2013 could also hold information about the origin of water on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mission Objectives<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrate active laser spectroscopy that could differentiate between surface water ice (or frost) and dry regolith on the Moon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Map the locations of exposed surface water ice near the Moon\u2019s South Pole.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonstrate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/nasas-green-propellant-infusion-mission-nears-completion\/\">\u201cgreen\u201d propulsion system technology<\/a> for planetary missions using a low-toxicity propellant that is simpler to handle while providing higher performance than hydrazine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expand the legacy of CubeSats to performing scientific study at the Moon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fast Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Lunar Flashlight will be the first mission to use lasers to determine the presence of water ice on the Moon\u2019s surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lunar Flashlight will carry four lasers operating at four different, near-infrared wavelengths to differentiate between water ice and regolith as it investigates regions of the Moon\u2019s South Pole that are in permanent darkness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lunar Flashlight is a six-unit (6U) CubeSat (about the size of two stacked cereal boxes) and weighs about 30 pounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lunar Flashlight launched on December 11 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Partners<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is providing technological elements from predecessor systems as well as radiometer experience. JPL is the lead NASA center for the overall development of the mission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the measurement lead for Lunar Flashlight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NASA\u2019s Small Spacecraft Technology program based at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and within the Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the mission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama is working with the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta to develop the propulsion subsystem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, will integrate and test and operate the spacecraft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The University of California, Los Angeles serves as the ground data system location and is the affiliation of a science co-investigator.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and the University of Colorado Boulder are the affiliations of two additional science co-investigators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Learn More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/techport.nasa.gov\/view\/106819\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TechPort Project Summary<\/a> for NASA\u2019s Lunar Flashlight technology demonstration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/jpl\/nasas-lunar-flashlight-team-assessing-spacecrafts-propulsion-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/jpl\/nasas-lunar-flashlight-team-assessing-spacecrafts-propulsion-system\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA\u2019s Lunar Flashlight Team Assessing Spacecraft\u2019s Propulsion System<\/a> (Jan. 12, 2023)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/lunar-flashlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Small Spacecraft Will Scout Ice Formations on the Moon<\/a> (Jan. 10, 2022)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/news\/news.php?feature=7647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA CubeSat Will Shine a Laser Light on the Moon’s Darkest Craters<\/a> (Apr. 27, 2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/small-spacecraft-technology-program\/nasa-cubesats-play-big-role-in-lunar-exploration\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/stmd\/small-spacecraft-technology-program\/nasa-cubesats-play-big-role-in-lunar-exploration\/\">NASA CubeSats Play Big Role in Lunar Exploration<\/a> (Feb. 25, 2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/lunar-flashlight-selected-to-fly-as-secondary-payload-on-exploration-mission-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lunar Flashlight Selected to Fly as Secondary Payload on Exploration Mission-1 <\/a>(Feb. 2, 2016)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/what-are-smallsats-and-cubesats\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What are SmallSats and CubeSats?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NASA\u2019s Artemis Program<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For investigators:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hou.usra.edu\/meetings\/lpsc2017\/eposter\/1709.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Payload Design for the Lunar Flashlight Mission<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/missions\/lunar-flashlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">JPL\u2019s Lunar Flashlight Mission Page<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investigators can explore funding opportunities with the Small Spacecraft Technology <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/solicitations\/\">program online.<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For technical inquiries about Lunar Flashlight, contact: <a href=\"mailto:arc-sst@mail.nasa.gov\">arc-sst@mail.nasa.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For news media:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should get in touch with the CubeSats media contact at NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, listed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/who-we-are\/media-information\/jpl-media-contacts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?w=525\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=394,600 394w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-flight-opportunities\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>STMD Flight Opportunities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg 2400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/spaceworks_balloon_launch-1.jpeg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallsat-institute\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1152\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?w=1152\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png 1275w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=675,900 675w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/soa-2023-cover.png?resize=900,1200 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1152px) 100vw, 1152px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/sbir_sttr\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) \/ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg 2550w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sbir_sttr_program.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Update May 11, 2023: While the CubeSat couldn\u2019t reach the lunar South Pole to help seek ice, it fulfilled several technology goals that will empower future missions for the benefit of humanity. NASA\u2019s Lunar Flashlight launched on Dec. 11, 2022, to demonstrate several new technologies, with an ultimate goal to seek out surface ice in the permanently shadowed craters of [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":58757,"parent":192469,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[3342],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[9525],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"What is Lunar Flashlight?","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/lunar-flashlight\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/lunar-flashlight\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sonja Caldwell"}],"creator":["Sonja Caldwell"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Small Spacecraft Technology Program"],"dateCreated":"2023-07-25T19:59:20Z","datePublished":"2023-07-25T19:59:20Z","dateModified":"2023-09-27T22:33:34Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"What is Lunar Flashlight?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/smallspacecraft\/lunar-flashlight\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-07-25T19:59:20Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Small Spacecraft Technology Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Sonja Caldwell\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":6,"time_ago":"11 months","featured_image":{"id":58757,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole.jpg","title":"lunar_flashlight_over_south_pole","alt":"lunar flashlight","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/468183"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/468183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":527762,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/468183\/revisions\/527762"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/192469"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468183"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=468183"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=468183"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=468183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}