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A new camera designed for upcoming crewed missions to the moon has been tested by astronauts in lunar-like environments on Earth. It can even record video. The Handheld Universal Lunar Camera (HULC) was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s Artemis imagery team. Made from off-the-shelf cameras, according to a statement from ESA, this prototype underwent testing in Lanzarote, Spain, as part of the PANGAEA training program, which prepares astronauts for future missions to the moon.
NASA aims to land humans on the moon for the first time since 1972 with the launch of its Artemis 3 mission, currently scheduled for 2025. The mission will land astronauts on the moon’s south pole region near permanently shadowed craters, where the crew will search for evidence of water. Being able to photograph the lunar landscape will be key for documenting scientific discoveries during future missions to the moon.
The off-the-shelf cameras used for HULC were modified to withstand extreme conditions on the moon, which includes thermal variations — temperatures ranging from minus 328 to 184 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 200 to 120 degrees Celsius) — a lack of atmospheric pressure, radiation effects and abrasive lunar dust. To combat these challenges, the camera was outfitted with a blanket for dust and thermal protection, as well as with ergonomic buttons designed specifically to aid astronauts using the camera while wearing gloves in bulky spacesuits.
As part of field science training, an international crew tested the capabilities of the camera in simulated lunar scenarios ranging from broad daylight to dark volcanic caves, both of which resemble the lunar environment's extreme conditions. During PANGAEA, one of the crew’s objectives was to select the most suitable lenses and corresponding settings. Using the camera in the field allowed the team to test that the photos had the right resolution, depth of field and exposure to maximize science results, according to the statement.
Further testing of the lunar camera prototype is expected, with one version slated to fly to the International Space Station for additional experimentation in orbit. These tests are to choose the best lenses for the moon shots and optimize the settings in a smart way, thereby enabling astronauts to take a detailed image of a crystalline structure in a rock and to capture landscapes.
Edited by : www.linkedin.com/in/priyanka-v23
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