A cutting-edge camera designed by Oxford University scientists is poised for its inaugural mission to identify water on the Moon.

Named the Lunar Thermal Mapper, this state-of-the-art device will play a pivotal role in pinpointing the location and volume of water on the lunar surface.

Installed on NASA's Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, a compact satellite set to launch in 2024, the thermal imaging technology aims to revolutionize our understanding of lunar water resources.

By capturing images of the same Moon regions at different times during the day, the Lunar Trailblazer will ascertain whether water levels undergo fluctuations.

This versatile camera will track if water transforms into gas due to surface heating or gathers as frost within shaded zones as the surface cools.

Experts from the University's Department of Physics anticipate that this newfound water knowledge could be harnessed for multiple purposes, ranging from water purification for consumption to its utilization as fuel and breathable oxygen.

Operating alongside the high-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper, the advanced equipment is integrated into the 3.5m (11.5ft) wide satellite with fully deployed solar panels.

Professor Neil Bowles, Instrument Scientist at the University of Oxford's Department of Physics, lauded the innovation of the camera. He remarked, "The mission's data will offer insights into the movement of water across the lunar surface and its potential accumulation in cold traps near the poles."

Libby Jackson, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, expressed optimism that this mission would propel scientists closer to harnessing the Moon's natural resources, which could significantly support forthcoming space endeavors.

She commented, "After years of dedicated work by the Oxford team, it's thrilling to see this instrument ready and installed for its journey into space." Photo by Steve Cadman, Wikimedia commons.