NASA’s Artemis program continues to advance our understanding of the Moon with the selection of a new scientific payload called DIMPLE (Dating an Irregular Mare Patch with a Lunar Explorer). This instrument suite will focus on studying the hilly terrain formed by volcanic activity on the near side of the Moon, specifically the Ina Irregular Mare Patch. By investigating this mound, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights into the Moon’s evolution and gain clues about the history of our solar system.
DIMPLE is the outcome of the PRISM (Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon) proposal call, an initiative facilitated by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). This marks the first PRISM call that allows researchers to choose and justify a specific landing site for conducting high-priority lunar science investigations. The cost for the DIMPLE payload suite is capped at $50 million, and it is expected to be delivered no earlier than the second quarter of 2027. NASA plans to issue a CLPS task order in 2024 to determine the launch services for DIMPLE’s journey to the Moon.
This endeavor is part of NASA’s broader lunar plans under the Artemis program, which aims to explore the Moon extensively using advanced robotics and astronauts. Through DIMPLE, scientists hope to determine whether Irregular Mare Patches were formed by recent or ancient volcanic processes. The mission will utilize a CLPS-provided rover, a collection gripping instrument, and a spectrometer to analyze the age and composition of samples collected from Ina’s surface. DIMPLE is capable of gathering and analyzing anywhere from three to more than 25 samples, offering valuable insights into the timing of the volcanic activity that shaped this feature.
The findings from DIMPLE could have significant implications for our understanding of the Moon’s geochemical state over time. If the volcanic activity is found to be geologically recent, it could suggest that the lunar mantle was warmer than previously believed or that radioactive elements contributed to ongoing small-scale eruptions. On the other hand, if the eruptions are determined to be older, it would prompt a reassessment of the age and evolution of craters on the Moon, providing crucial insights into the history of Earth and other planets in our solar system.
Joel Kearns, the deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, emphasizes that DIMPLE’s selection aims to definitively resolve the debate surrounding the Moon’s recent volcanic activity. This mission not only poses intriguing scientific questions but also demonstrates an exciting technology that can be employed to measure absolute ages of diverse geologic terrains across the solar system.
The principal investigator for the DIMPLE mission is F. Scott Anderson from the Southwest Research Institute’s Solar System Science and Exploration Division in Boulder, Colorado. The CLPS initiative, which leverages commercial launch providers, plays a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration efforts, enabling cost-effective scientific advancements on the Moon’s surface. These science and technology payloads will pave the way for future human missions.
To learn more about DIMPLE and NASA’s lunar exploration efforts, visit NASA’s official website at https://www.nasa.gov/clps. The Moon continues to be a captivating destination for scientific discovery, and with each mission, we uncover more about the mysteries of our cosmic neighborhood.
