The PROSPECT instrument package (Platform for Resource Observation and in-Situ Prospecting for Exploration, Commercial exploitation and Transportation), developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), is scheduled to fly to the Moon's South Pole in 2025 as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) programme.

The objectives of the instrument package are:

• Sample extraction from depths of up to 1 m
• Thermal extraction of water and other volatiles
• Identification and characterisation of the extracted species
• Demonstration of an ISRU process to extract water from regolith

PROSPECT consists of the drilling and sampling system ProSEED (PROSPECT Sample Excavation and Extraction Drill) and the gas analysis laboratory ProSPA (PROSPECT Sample Processing and Analysis). TUM is jointly responsible for the design of the sample ovens, in which the soil samples are heated, and the characterisation of the ISRU demonstration process. TUM is also deeply involved in the the development of the permittivity sensor located in the drill, for which we perform the calibration, amongst other tasks. Furthermore, we are part of the international PROSPECT Science Team. 

Funding:

• ESA (2014-2015 Phase A, 2016-2019 Phase B+, 2019-2025 Phase C/D/E/F, 2023-2026 Permittivity Sensor Support)

Partners:

• Leonardo S.P.A. (IT)
• The Open University (UK)

Publications

• Trautner, R.; Barber, S. J.; Fisackerly, R.; Heather, D.; Houdou, B.; Howe, C.; Iacobellis, S.; Leese, M.; Mariani, A.; Meogrossi, G.; Murray, N.; Panza, C.; Reiss, P.; Rusconi, A.; Abernethy, F.; Cann, N.; Chinnery, H.; Gscheidle, C.; Landsberg, P.; Lindner, R.; Morse, A. D.; Mortimer, J.; Nicolae, L.; Picchi, P.; Sheridan, S. & Verchovsky, A. (2024), PROSPECT: A comprehensive sample acquisition and analysis package for lunar science and exploration, Frontiers in Space Technologies, 5, DOI: 10.3389/frspt.2024.1331828
• Boazman, S. J.; Heather, D.; Hutton, M.; Schwinning, M.; Frigeri, A.; Schmitz, N.; Besse, S.; Formisano, M.; De Sanctis, C.; Gscheidle, C.; Orgel, C.; Reiss, P.; Sefton-Nash, E. & Warren, T. (2024) Characterization of sites of scientific interest for ESA’s PROSPECT instrument, Icarus, Elsevier BV, 116240, DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2024.116240