NASA is sending its Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) technology to the Moon again, this time with improved cameras and a higher altitude to collect more data. The mission aims to understand the effects of lunar landers on the surface, which could impact future missions.
Developed at NASA’s Langley Research Center, SCALPSS is an array of cameras that capture imagery during descent and touchdown. Using stereo photogrammetry, researchers create 3D models of the surface, providing valuable insights into erosion caused by plume-surface interaction.
The new version of SCALPSS, SCALPSS 1.1, has two additional cameras and will begin taking images at a higher altitude, allowing for more accurate comparisons. The mission will help answer questions about how much the surface changes during landing and what happens to lunar soil.
With the Artemis campaign, NASA is working with commercial partners to establish a long-term presence on the Moon. SCALPSS 1.1 is part of this effort, delivering over 200 pounds of science experiments and technology demonstrations.
The team expects to process images and generate 3D digital elevation maps in a couple of months, revealing possible lander-induced erosion. Researchers anticipate small changes, likely around centimeters deep, but the mission will provide valuable data for validating models predicting lunar lander effects.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-cameras-to-capture-interaction-between-blue-ghost-moons-surface