Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos will launch a probe bearing a neutron generator in 2012 to study the moon’s surface.
Automation Engineering Scientific Research Institute deputy chief designer Yevgeny Bogolyubov said that Roscosmos plans to send a spacecraft developed by the institute to the moon to study the lunar surface, whilst also adding that the technology could be used on Mars.
“The IGN-10K impulse neutron generator is designed to study the surface of Mars to determine the content of water in the soil by nuclear-physical methods,” he said.
“The generator will be installed on board a Nasa Mars lab that is slated for launch in 2011.”
