Overview: NASA's Lunar Trailblazer targeted one of the most surprising discoveries of the decade: water on the Moon. As a NASA SIMPLEx (Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration) program mission selection, Lunar Trailblazer aimed for critical advancements for science as a lower-budget, ride-along mission. Science objectives included studying the form, abundance, and distribution of water on the Moon, as well as the lunar water cycle. NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer ended its mission to the Moon on July 31, 2025. Despite extensive efforts, mission operators were unable to establish two-way communications after losing contact with the spacecraft the day following its Feb. 26 launch. The mission PI was Bethany Ehlmann (Caltech).
IPAC led the Mission Operation System effort for Lunar Trailblazer. This included planning, scheduling, and sequencing of all science, instrument, and spacecraft activities for LTB during the nominal mission.
The MOS included personnel from IPAC and JPL and also students from Caltech and Pasadena City College. IPAC also provided facilities in support of Mission Operations for LTB.
Science data processing was to be done in the Bruce Murray Laboratory for Planetary Visualization at Caltech.
Mission News
