Lunar Vehicle Radiation Dosimeter system (LVRaD), KASI¶
IM-5 · manifested · partner payload
A suite of four radiation detectors from Korea: a particle dosimeter and spectrometer (PDS), a tissue-equivalent dosimeter (TED), an epithermal neutron spectrometer (NS-E) and a fast neutron spectrometer (NS-F). It measures the radiation dose and spectrum on the surface and what it would mean for the human body; the neutron sensors also hint at hydrogen (possible water) below the surface, and one crystal gives gamma spectra of surface radioisotopes.
PI: Not in public sources. KASI's 2023 DALO abstract is led by Chae Kyung Sim; the LEO-DOS and PDS papers are led by Uk-Won Nam and Young-Jun Choi's KASI group.
Built by: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), with Seoul National University (KASI credits the units to KASI/SNU) and Kyungpook National University (the PDS silicon sensor). Funded through Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT; the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) signed the flight agreement with NASA. (partner agency)
| Technology | radiation dosimeter and neutron spectrometer suite (partner instrument) |
| Moon Base need | DN-012 L, DN-007 L (The study's reading; NASA names no data gap. DN-012 L asks for the radiation environment at the South Pole, including charged particles and neutron spectra measured together, to validate crew-exposure models. LVRAD measures charged-particle dose and spectra, tissue-equivalent dose, and fast and epithermal neutrons at Mons Malapert, so it fits better than a charged-particle monitor alone. Partial: the neutron energy range and how long LVRAD will operate are not in the sources, while DN-012 L asks for neutrons to at least 100 MeV and long-term data. The epithermal neutron data bear on subsurface hydrogen (DN-007 L) only indirectly. A 2030 landing falls in Phase 2 by date, the study's reading.) |
| Route onto CLPS | partner; A Korean partner payload. KASI developed four lunar payloads 'proposed to be on-boarded' onto CLPS landers through the KASI-NASA Exploration Working Group, with Korean ministry funding; the first, LUSEM, is manifested on IM-3. NASA listed LVRaD among IM-5's payloads in March 2026, and KASA signed an implementation agreement with NASA in August 2026. NASA will handle the data downlink and share the findings.; 2026-03-24 |
| Timeline | first funding 2017 (NRF grants for LEO-DOS, the predecessor); 2020 (NRF grant for KASI's lunar payloads); first flight test 2023-05-25 (LEO-DOS on NEXTSat-2, the predecessor); selected 2026-03-24 (named among IM-5's payloads); implementation agreement with NASA announced 2026-08-18; launch not in public sources (landing targeted for 2030); flight model to be finished by 2027; landing 2030 (target) |
| On the Moon | not yet flown |
| FO | none |
Flights before the Moon¶
- Earth orbit or deep space: LEO-DOS (Low Earth Orbit Radiation Dosimeter) on Korea's NEXTSat-2, launched on Nuri, 2023-05-25 (launch); operated June 2023 to about March 2026. The predecessor, by the same KASI group with SNU and Kyungpook National University: a particle dosimeter and a neutron spectrometer in a 550 km polar orbit. It made a global dose map for charged particles and neutrons, saw solar particle events (including the May 2024 storm), and ran 2 years and 9 months. KASI says LVRAD draws on LEO-DOS heritage, and the LEO-DOS team says its technical heritage will be applied to LVRAD.
"was launched successfully on May 25, 2023 using the Nuri KSLV-III in Korea"
— janss.kr: downloadpdf, abstract"The LEO-DOS is equipped with a particle dosimeter (PD) and a neutron spectrometer (NS)"
— janss.kr: downloadpdf, abstract"the technical heritage of the LEO-DOS instrument will be applied to the development of the lunar vehicle radiation dosimeter (LVRAD)"
— janss.kr: downloadpdf, conclusions"to the heritages of LEO-DOS (Low Earth Orbit Radiation DOSimeter)"
— DALO-Discovery Across Lunar Observations, KASI LVRAD page"has successfully completed its 2-year and 9-month mission"
— Korea Completes Space Radiation Observation for the First Time... 'LEO-DOS' Ends 2 Years and 9 Mo…, Asia Business Daily, 15 Apr 2026
Heritage hardware¶
- design heritage (LEO-DOS) and ground tests: LVRAD builds on LEO-DOS's particle dosimeter and neutron spectrometer. Its new PDS silicon photodiode sensor and readout were tested with gamma sources and with 30 and 45 MeV proton beams at the MC50 cyclotron in Seoul. The neutron spectrometers use LiI:Ag, LaCl3 and stilbene crystals.
"The proton beam generated in the MC50 cyclotron at the Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences in Seoul, Korea"
— A Study on the Performance of a Silicon Photodiode Sensor for a Particle Dosimeter and Spectromet…"Chloride (LaCl3) and Stilbene (C14H12) crystals"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, right column
Funding before the lunar flight¶
- Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, through a National Research Foundation of Korea grant for KASI's DALO lunar payloads (NRF 2020M1A3B7040417). Amount not in the sources. No US funding found: NASA's share is the CLPS ride and data downlink. (MSIT / National Research Foundation of Korea; from 2020): amount not in public sources
"The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of Korea"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, left column"is supporting the development, mission operation, and"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, left column"This work is supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) under grant No. 2020M1A3B7040417"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf
- The predecessor, LEO-DOS on NEXTSat-2: National Research Foundation of Korea grants funded by MSIT (NRF-2017M1A3A4A01077173 and NRF-2017M1A3A4A01077220). Amount not in the sources. (MSIT / National Research Foundation of Korea; from 2017): amount not in public sources
"NRF-2017M1A3A4A01077220"
— janss.kr: downloadpdf, acknowledgements (Nam et al., JASS 41(3), 2024)
How it got onto CLPS¶
"developing four payloads that are proposed to be on-"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, left column: 'KASI is developing four payloads that are proposed to be on-boarded onto lunar landers through the CLPS initiative'"KASI-NASA Exploration Working Group."
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, left column"Lunar Vehicle Radiation Dosimeter system (LVRaD), a suite of four radiation detectors"
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA, 27 Mar 2026"Once deployed on the moon, NASA will manage data transmissions back to Earth, sharing the findings with international scientific teams."
— Korea, NASA partner to map radiation at moon's south pole - The Korea Times, Korea Times, 18 Aug 2026
On the Moon¶
Manifested on IM-5 (Nova-D), targeted for 2030 at Mons Malapert. KASI's earlier lunar payload, LUSEM, is manifested on IM-3.
"Korea’s LVRAD will be integrated into a lander built by Houston-based Intuitive Machines"
— Korea, NASA partner to map radiation at moon's south pole - The Korea Times, Korea Times, 18 Aug 2026
FO's role¶
Grade: none. No FO project, flight or report names LVRAD, LEO-DOS, KASI or its Korean university partners. FO buys flights for US technology; a Korean partner instrument would not be expected in its portfolio. Its earlier flight was a Korean satellite. Grade: none.
"Six more missions have been awarded with no NASA payloads named in the sources"
— earlier finding of this study (not a public source)
Who built it¶
"Lead organization: Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute"
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA"LRDS unit (Credit: KASI/SNU)"
— DALO-Discovery Across Lunar Observations, KASI LVRAD page"A lunar vehicle radiation dosimeter (LVRAD) has been proposed for studying the radiation environment on the lunar surface and evaluating its impact on human health."
— A Study on the Performance of a Silicon Photodiode Sensor for a Particle Dosimeter and Spectromet…, Kim et al., Sensors 21, 8029, 2021; Kyungpook National University and KASI"The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) said Tuesday that it signed an implementation agreement with NASA to fly its Lunar Vehicle Radiation Dosimeter (LVRAD)"
— Korea, NASA partner to map radiation at moon's south pole - The Korea Times, Korea Times, 18 Aug 2026
Moon Base need¶
"Measure neutron flux spectrum up to at least 100 MeV. Measure charged particle (electron,"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-012 L: In situ lunar surface radiation environment measurements and space weather monitoring, target measurement parameters"Measure the radiation environment on the lunar surface at the south pole."
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-012 L: In situ lunar surface radiation environment measurements and space weather monitoring, description"is designed to quantify the radiation environment on the lunar surface and assess its potential impacts of radiation on biology and the human body in preparation for future human-related activities on the Moon"
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA"surface, which may be evidence of subsurface water"
— hou.usra.edu: 1494.pdf, right column; NS-E 'will measure epithermal neutrons emanating from the' surface
Open questions¶
- Who is LVRAD's principal investigator? Not in public sources.
- What energy range will the fast neutron spectrometer cover, and how long will LVRAD operate? DN-012 L asks for neutrons to at least 100 MeV and long-term data.
- What Korea has spent on LVRAD: not in public sources.
- Will LVRAD fly in any environment test (balloon, aircraft, orbit) before 2030 beyond LEO-DOS? Not in public sources.