Tracking down water: Laser for use on the Moon

In order to detect water in the polar regions of the Moon, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) has developed a robust laser in the LUVMI-X project. Used in the project partners’ measuring instrument, the system has already been successfully tested on regolith samples.

The probability of finding volatiles such as water on the moon is highest in the Polar Regions, as they are frozen. These substances can be detected, for example, using the “laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy” (LIBS) method. To this end, the scientists in the Solid-State Lasers group have designed and built a laser model.

The Institute of Optical Sensor Systems of the German Aerospace Center (DLR-OS) incorporated the laser from the LZH into a demonstrator model of the actual “Volatiles Identification by Laser Ablation” measuring instrument (short: VOILA). Then, they tested the functionality on regolith simulant, a substance that is very similar to Moon dust, and were able to use it to generate the desired measurement data.

Extremely cold-resistant and robust laser components

The long-term goal is to integrate the VOILA laser system into a Moon rover. In order to find out which components are suitable for a future flight model, the LZH scientists, together with OHB System AG, have carried out low-temperature tests on various laser components at temperatures of up to -140°C.

For a laser to be suitable for use on the Moon, it must meet specific requirements. It must function reliably in extremely cold areas with temperatures significantly lower than -100° C – such temperatures are extremely problematic for conventional laser systems. For transport on a Moon rocket, it must be small and compact, and also very robust so that it does not get damaged during the strong vibrations of the rocket launch.
The plan for real-world use on the Earth’s satellite already exists, and the concept for a laser flight model design ensures that the planned laser will actually fit into the available volume on the Moon rover.

About LUVMI-X

The „Lunar Volatile Mobile Instrumentation Extended“ project (LUVMI-X) was funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon 2020 funding program (Grant 822018). The Institute of Optical Sensor Systems of the German Aerospace Center in Berlin, the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. and OHB System AG, Weßling, were involved in the development of the VIOLA instrument.

Weitere Informationen:

http://www.h2020-luvmi-x.eu/ project website
http://www.h2020-luvmi-x.eu/watch-the-videos-luvmi-x-lasers/ In these short videos, the project partners involved report on their work