Helium-3 reconnaissance payload
Magna Petra's first scouting payload: a mass spectrometer that ispace will carry to the Moon on a rover to detect helium-3 and other elements in the soil.
Why it matters
Readings of how much helium-3 sits at specific lunar sites are needed before anyone can plan to mine it. Magna Petra says helium-3 is used in quantum computing, medical imaging and border security.
How the technology works
A mass spectrometer designed to detect helium-3 and other elements will be mounted on a lunar rover being built by ispace's European subsidiary. ispace booked the payload on its Mission 3.
Magna Petra describes its instruments as NASA-developed.
Sources
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