Radio astronomers will study how natural and anthropogenic activity near the lunar surface can influence the science conducted there
In February 2024, Intuitive Machines will send the IM-1 mission to the lunar south pole as part of NASA's CLPS program. One of the instruments on board IM-1 will be ROLSES (Radio Wave Observation of the Photoelectron Shell on the Lunar Surface), designed to study the radio environment on the Moon.
The device consists of four antennas about 2.5 meters long, capable of detecting any radio emissions on the Moon. They are packaged in a container measuring about 21 centimeters for easy launching. The main purpose of ROLSES is to study various types of radio emission on the Moon. This includes radio interference caused by human activities on Earth, as well as natural radio emissions from Jupiter, the Sun and our galaxy, and even radiation associated with Earth's aurora.
Each type of radio emission has its own spectrum, which allows scientists to determine its origin. For example, the mechanisms and engines of the lunar lander will create radio emissions that can be distinguished from other types of interference. This will allow researchers to focus on real data rather than artificial «noise».
Four ROLSES antennas will also be mounted at two different heights, allowing changes in the negative electron cloud to be measured at different heights. Thus, it will be possible to measure the electron density as a function of the distance to the surface of the Moon and find out how it changes with distance from it.
This information will be useful in the design and construction of future lunar observatories, as radio frequency interference from the electron cloud and terrestrial radio transmitters will need to be taken into account. These radio observations will help create a library of knowledge about the lunar environment.