On May 9, the so-called lunar consultations ended, in which representatives of CBK WEFiM actively participated. The purpose of the consultations conducted by the Polish Space Agency was to define the general conditions and objectives of the mission to the Moon. It was agreed that the Polish orbiter would be sent first; in the next step, the lunar rover.
CBK WEFiM submitted two solutions: a miniature laboratory for biological research and a miniature mass spectrometer, which have a chance to be found in both parts of the mission.
The laboratory for conducting biological research is an experiment proposal for a lunar orbiter. You can read about the “Bio-Sat” solution on which we base here. Two scientific goals (experiments) were selected for the lunar mission:
- research on the behaviour of human cancer cell lines in lunar space conditions in order to develop new personalized anti-cancer therapies,
- badania nad procesami adaptacji roślin (molekularnych i tkankowych) do research on the processes of adaptation of plants (molecular and tissue) to the conditions prevailing in the lunar space as model research preceding the settlement of celestial bodies.
A miniature mass spectrometer is the perfect instrument for a lunar rover. The solution we are working on under a contract for the European Space Agency is the smallest mass spectrometer in the world, enabling the analysis of the composition of the atmosphere in the range of 1 to 350 atomic masses, with a resolution of 1 m/z. With a volume of 1U (10x10x10 cm3) and a weight of <1 kg, it is a good candidate for a leading measurement/scientific instrument for a lunar rover.
Lunar consultations resulted in defining a priority program (mission) for Poland, in which CBK WEFiM has a chance to participate. We fully support the activities of POLSA, counting on the joint success of the Polish mission to the moon.
You can read about the meeting from a different perspective:
https://polsa.gov.pl/wydarzenia/misja-ksiezycowa-zakonczenie-konsultacji/
https://pwr.edu.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/projekty-z-w12-czescia-polskiej-misji-ksiezycowej-12938.html