JPL Scientist and Caltech Professor to Host Webinar on ‘Lunar Trailblazer’ Moon Mission

The lead investigator preparing a Jet Propulsion Laboratory mission to send a satellite to map newly discovered water on the moon will be hosting an online lecture next week to discuss the ambitious project.

Bethany Ehlmann serves as principal investigator for the Lunar Trailblazer mission, which is being planned by JPL. Ehlmann is also a professor of planetary science at Caltech, according to a written statement from Caltech’s W.M. Keck Institute for Space Studies, which is hosting the webinar, scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

“Trailblazer places advanced infrared sensors in orbit for spatial and temporal characterization of water and cold traps,” according to a Caltech statement. “Our knowledge of the ‘lunar water cycle’ is in its infancy, and Trailblazer remote sensing is the next step to resolve current questions about the character and origin of water in the Earth-Moon system, and characterize resources for future landed exploration.”

The satellite will also map out potential future lunar landing sites for robotic and manned missions.

“In addition to advancing space science, Lunar Trailblazer also pioneers a collaboration between Caltech and Pasadena City College to train students to perform mission team roles in design, build, and operations,” according to the Keck statement.

Prior to serving as principal investigator on the Lunar Trailblazer Mission, Ehlmann’s past work includes working on the science teams for the just-launched Mars Perseverance Rover, the Mars Curiosity Rover, the twin Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the CRISM imaging spectrometer on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter,

“She is also on the Dawn orbiter team exploring the largest asteroid and dwarf planet Ceres, the EMIT space station-based imaging spectrometer to explore dust source regions, and is working to propose mission concepts for Europa, Venus, the Mars moons, asteroids and Earth,” according to the Keck Institute statement.

Lunar Trailblazer is expected to launch sometime between 2022 and 2024, Scientific American reported.

For more information, or to register for the online presentation, visit kiss.caltech.edu/lectures/2020_Lunar_Trailblazer.html.