NASA and department of Energy (DOE) are working together to develop a science instrument that will survive harsh environment of the lunar surface at night on far side of the Moon to understand the dark ages of universe. The dark ages occurred approximately 380 thousand – 400 million years after the origin of the universe. It can provide insight into formation and evolution of the Universe. Radio waves present the only signal that can measure from the Dark ages.
The instrument will be named LuSEE- Nigh. And it will be a pathfinder to understand the Moon’s radio environment and to potentially take a first look at a previously unobserved era in the cosmic history. Also the collaboration further strengthens the longstanding partnership between NASA and DOE to enable space innovation and exploration.
The important radio wave signals are impossible to measure from Earth’s surface. LuSEE- Nigh will use antennas and radio receivers to potentially observe these sensitive radio waves from Dark Ages for the first time. It will be physically present on lunar surface and take measurement at the right time.” LuSEEE- Night is a fascinating experiment that will get closer to observing something we’ve never be able to before- the Dark Ages Signal,” said Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, DOE’s Director of the Office of Science.
There will be a significant challenge for the instrument to survive the harsh, cold and dark environment of the lunar night on the far side of the Moon. The temperature rage present a significant challenge as it can freeze the instrument. “ LuSEE- Night” will operate during cold temperature of the 14- day lunar night. The survival of the instrument is critical to perform long term high priority science investigations. Of successful LuSEE- Night act as a pathfinder to help inform larger future instruments to measure these otherwise undetectable radio frequencies. With this finding the scientists will help better understand the earliest period of Universes’ formation and evolution.
