The launch of the orbiter is scheduled for 2024
MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. The lunar gamma - ray and neutron spectrometer (LGNS) for geological exploration of the Earth's natural satellite from orbit will be created and will be tested in 2022-2023. This was reported to TASS by the head of the Department of nuclear Planetology of the Institute of Space Research (ICI) RAS Igor Mitrofanov.
"The LGNS device has not yet been manufactured. We expect to start [manufacturing] in late 2021-early 2022. Accordingly, the tests will take place in 2022-2023, " Mitrofanov said.
Earlier, the scientist told TASS that the installation of the device on the orbiter "Luna-26" will allow you to scan almost the entire surface of the natural satellite of the Earth, because it will fly over almost all areas. According to him, the device being developed at the ICI will measure gamma radiation and neutron flux, and a general averaged map will be compiled based on the accumulated gamma radiation, which determines the elemental composition and the amount of volatiles on the Moon.
The launch of the Luna-26 orbiter is scheduled for 2024.
