A groundbreaking NASA X-ray imaging instrument, the Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI), is heading to the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign. This innovative device will capture the first global images of Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective field that shields the planet from solar radiation. LEXI is one of 10 payloads aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, launching no earlier than mid-January under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.
Upon landing, LEXI will activate and focus its gaze on Earth, collecting images of X-rays from the magnetosphere’s edges over six days. This will offer a complete picture of how the magnetosphere responds to solar winds and space weather, which can trigger auroras and potentially damage infrastructure. “We’re trying to get this big picture of Earth’s space environment,” said Brian Walsh, LEXI’s principal investigator.
LEXI will detect low-energy X-rays created when solar wind particles collide with the magnetosphere’s outer edge, called the magnetopause. While prior observations have provided fragmented data, LEXI’s lunar vantage point allows a full-field view, enabling scientists to track the magnetosphere’s dynamic behavior as it expands and contracts with solar wind variations.
The instrument will also study magnetic reconnection, where solar wind field lines merge with the magnetosphere’s, releasing particles that can create brilliant auroras but also harm satellites and power grids. “Understanding these processes can help protect space infrastructure,” said Hyunju Connor, NASA’s lead for LEXI.
Originally launched in 2012 as STORM, the instrument was refurbished for this mission, underscoring NASA’s commitment to cost-effective innovation. As a key CLPS customer, NASA aims to drive commercial lunar exploration while advancing scientific discovery. With LEXI, researchers hope to unlock vital insights into Earth’s interaction with space weather and safeguard our technological systems.
