Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS); the team lists this unit as SCALPSS 2.1¶
IM-5 · manifested · NASA payload
A stereo camera system under the lander that images how the engine plume erodes and throws up regolith during descent and landing. This version adds laser and passive illumination to see the ejecta sheet, and particle impact sensors. The team lists it as SCALPSS 2.1 for CT-4: six or more cameras on new 'Mini-Suite Lite' avionics.
PI: Wesley Chambers (NASA Marshall); Michelle Munk, the first PI, has retired. Project manager Robert Maddock (NASA Langley)
Built by: NASA Langley Research Center (lead: management, avionics, cameras, illumination, integration and test), with NASA Marshall (principal investigator, cameras and lenses, plume modeling), NASA Glenn (particle impact sensor) and NASA Johnson (camera calibration, insulation) (NASA center)
| Technology | landing-environment cameras with active illumination and particle impact sensors (plume-surface interaction) |
| Moon Base need | DN-017 L, DN-018 L (Partly NASA's link, partly the study's reading. DN-017 L's own row names SCALPSS (for Blue Ghost) and says similar imaging suites could give comparative data for other lander configurations; IM-5 is the first CLPS order to need Intuitive Machines' larger Nova-D lander, at Mons Malapert near the South Pole. That this unit answers DN-017 L and DN-018 L is the study's reading. Its laser grid and impact sensors aim at ejecta speed and sheet shape, closer to DN-017 L's 'particle sizes, speeds, and angles of ejection' than the camera-only versions. NASA does not place IM-5 in a phase; a 2030 landing falls in Phase 2 (2029-2032) by date, the study's reading.) |
| Route onto CLPS | STMD; No public call says how SCALPSS was put on this lander. The SCALPSS project, funded by STMD's Game Changing Development program, listed 'SCALPSS 2.1' for 'CLPS CT-4 (Lander Selection TBD)' in January 2026. NASA then awarded CT-4 to Intuitive Machines ($180.4 million, announced 24-27 March 2026) and named SCALPSS among its payloads. NASA's naming makes CT-4 a technology delivery led by STMD. The route is STMD (funder and delivery lead), as for SCALPSS 1.1; who chose SCALPSS for CT-4 is not public.; 2026-03-24 |
| Timeline | first funding late 2018 (SCALPSS project formed at Langley; SMD NPLP from FY2019); FY2021 (Langley CIF for SCALPSS 2 diagnostics); FY2024 (STMD GCD PSI Instrumentation Project, SCALPSS 2.0); 2025-05-01 (TechPort project 'SCALPSS 2'); first flight test 2024-02-15 (SCALPSS 1.0 on IM-1; the 2.x hardware has not flown); selected 2026-03-24 (CT-4 award announced; the team listed SCALPSS 2.1 for CT-4 by January 2026); launch not in public sources (landing targeted for 2030); landing 2030 (target) |
| On the Moon | not yet flown |
| FO | none |
Flights before the Moon¶
- earlier lunar mission: Intuitive Machines IM-1 (Nova-C 'Odysseus'), SCALPSS 1.0, 2024-02-15 (launch); landed 2024-02-22. The first version: four cameras, the Mars 2020-derived data storage unit and USB hub. It survived launch and transit, but did not power on in time for descent, because the lander's altitude data was wrong. On the surface three cameras returned images. No plume data.
"During descent, the payload was not powered on as expected due to erroneous altitude data on the lander"
— NTRS 20240005561, page 4"The SCALPSS 1.0 payload successfully operated during lunar transit, and on the lunar surface, however, no science data was collected."
— TechPort project 116401, description
- earlier lunar mission: Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, SCALPSS 1.1, 2025-01-15 (launch); landed 2025-03-02. Six cameras with three lens types. It worked in transit, in lunar orbit, during descent and on the surface, and took about 1,800 images in descent and landing. It met its full measurement objectives. NASA cites both lunar flights for the IM-5 unit.
"The SCALPSS 1.1 payload successfully operated during lunar transit, in lunar orbit, during lander descent, and on the lunar surface achieving its full measurement objectives."
— TechPort project 116401, description"During descent and landing on March 2, 2025, the payload acquired and transferred to the lander approximately 1800 images"
— NTRS 20250010973, page 1 (abstract)"This payload flew on both Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 and Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 and captured first of its kind imagery."
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA
Heritage hardware¶
- design heritage (SCALPSS 1.0 and 1.1): Same team, same stereo photogrammetry method, and the camera placement and calibration methods worked out for the earlier units. The 2.x hardware is new: higher-resolution Ethernet cameras, Mini-Suite Lite avionics in place of the Mars 2020-derived data unit and hub, a laser grid, and impact sensors. So the earlier lunar flights prove the method and the team's process, not this unit's hardware.
"Future versions of the SCALPSS instrument will also be able to take measurements of the ejecta sheet using a (laser or passive) dot grid projection system."
— NTRS 20240011651, slide 2"Utilization of a new MSE-lite electronics removes the need for a separate USB Hub."
— NTRS 20250001741, page 8"ejecta sheet shape, particle dynamics"
— NTRS 20260000603, page 17 (SCALPSS 2.1 goals)
- commercial parts: Commercial cameras (FLIR Blackfly S GigE in the 2025 design; NASA also bought Basler cameras for SCALPSS in 2026) and commercial Matchbox lasers, with a passive reflector (DISCOBaLL) as an option. The particle impact sensor is new, at TRL 3 in 2024, with a similar sensor developed for saltation studies at Mars.
"Matchbox Laser (active illumination)"
— NTRS 20250001741, page 12"Similar sensor / technology developed for saltation sensor applications at Mars."
— NTRS 20250001741, page 6"Technology is at TRL 3"
— NTRS 20240011651, PIE sensor slide
Funding before the lunar flight¶
- STMD Game Changing Development, project 'SCALPSS 2' (TechPort 184628, NASA Langley, 1 May 2025 to 30 June 2030): new electronics and higher-resolution cameras. No amount in TechPort. (STMD GCD; FY2025-FY2030): amount not in public sources
"The SCALPSS 2.0 payload will utilize new electronics to improve data management and higher resolution cameras for improved science data."
— TechPort project 184628, description; start 2025-05-01, end 2030-06-30
- STMD Game Changing Development, PSI Instrumentation Project (from FY2024): SCALPSS 2.0 and the Mini-Suite Electronics. No amount public. (STMD GCD; from FY2024): amount not in public sources
"Funded by STMD/GCD beginning in FY24 as part of the PSI Instrumentation Project."
— NTRS 20240011651, SCALPSS 2.0 slide (LSSW, 17 Sep 2024)
- Langley Center Innovation Fund, FY2021 (TechPort 146339, PI Joshua Weisberger): three lander diagnostics (ejecta sheet, particle tracking, terrain mapping), meant from the start for 'SCALPSS 2'. No amount in TechPort. (STMD Center Innovation Fund (Langley); 2020-10 to 2021-09): amount not in public sources
"Particle Image Velocimetry/Tracking, Ejecta Sheet Monitoring, and Terrain Mapping for SCALPSS 2"
— TechPort project 146339, title"we plan to propose to the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) for their inclusion on the SCALPSS 2 lunar lander in late FY21"
— TechPort project 146339, description
- NASA purchase order to Holoor (Israel) for custom diffractive optical elements, the laser-grid optics, 'for the SCALPSS 2.0 flight payloads' (80NSSC26P1729, signed 25 Sep 2026). Linked by the description; it covers several flight units and does not say which, so it is not this unit's cost alone. (NASA purchase order (NSSC); 2026): $91,540
"CUSTOM DIFFRACTIVE OPTICAL ELEMENTS (DOES) FOR THE SCALPSS 2.0 FLIGHT PAYLOADS"
— USAspending.gov, award 80NSSC26P1729, description; obligated 91540.0"THIS EFFORT IS IN SUPPORT OF IGNITION/MOONBASE WHICH FEEDS DIRECTLY INTO ARTEMIS"
— USAspending.gov, award 80NSSC26P1729, description
- NASA purchase orders to Microchip Technology for the Mini-Suite Lite avionics: relays (80NSSC26P0655) and an FPGA (80NSSC26P0636), May 2026. Linked by the descriptions, which name SCALPSS and MSE Lite. Which flight units they serve is not stated. Amount: the two orders together (USAspending aggregate). (NASA purchase orders (NSSC); 2026): $100,270
"MSE LITE RELAYS (SCALPSS)"
— USAspending.gov, award SCALPSS, 80NSSC26P0655; amount 55340.0"MSE/MSE/SCALPSS LITE FPGA"
— USAspending.gov, award SCALPSS, 80NSSC26P0636; amount 44929.6"MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC"
— USAspending.gov, awards 80NSSC26P0655, 80NSSC26P0636, 2 awards, obligated 100269.6
- Cameras bought from Lore Technology for SCALPSS, version not stated: Basler cameras (80NSSC26P1315, Aug 2026) and Teledyne FLIR cameras (80NSSC25PB904, Sep 2025). They fall in the SCALPSS 2.x build period, but the records do not say which unit, so linking them to the 2.x units is the study's reading. Amount: the two orders together (USAspending aggregate). (NASA purchase orders (NSSC); 2025-2026): $308,529
"SCALPSS BASLER CAMERAS"
— USAspending.gov, award 80NSSC26P1315, description; obligated 266904.0, signed 2026-08-17"TELEDYNE FLIR CAMERAS FOR THE SCALPSS PROJECT"
— USAspending.gov, award SCALPSS, 80NSSC25PB904; amount 41625.4"LORE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY"
— USAspending.gov, awards 80NSSC26P1315, 80NSSC25PB904, 2 awards, obligated 308529.4
- Test equipment: a 'SCALPSS vacuum chamber' from Ideal Vacuum Products (80NSSC25PB627, Aug 2025 to Oct 2026). A test facility for the project, not flight hardware; which units it serves is not stated. (NASA purchase order (NSSC); 2025-2026): $249,987
"SCALPSS VACUUM CHAMBER"
— USAspending.gov, award SCALPSS, 80NSSC25PB627; amount 249987.07
- The base design: SMD's NASA-Provided Lunar Payloads paid for SCALPSS 1.0 from FY2019; STMD GCD paid for SCALPSS 1.1 from FY2021 (TechPort 116401). See im1-scalpss and bgm1-scalpss. (SMD NPLP; STMD GCD; from FY2019): amount not in public sources
"SCALPSS 1.0 was funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate through the NASA-Provided Lunar Payloads Program."
— Tiny NASA Cameras to Picture Interaction Between Lander, Moon’s Surface - NASA
How it got onto CLPS¶
"CLPS CT-4 (Lander Selection TBD)"
— NTRS 20260000603, page 17 ('Future SCALPSS opportunities', under SCALPSS 2.1)"The Intuitive Machines Nova-D lander will deliver six NASA CLPS science payloads to the lunar south pole."
— Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deliveries - NASA Science, under the heading CT-4""CT-#" task orders indicate a CLPS Technology delivery led by Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)."
— Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deliveries - NASA Science, note on CLPS naming"today announced that NASA has awarded the Company a $180.4 million contract to deliver seven science and technology payloads"
— Intuitive Machines Expands Lunar Surface Operations with, 24 Mar 2026"Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS) will use enhanced stereo imaging photogrammetry, active illumination, and ejecta impact detection sensors"
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA, NASA, 27 Mar 2026"Funding: NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, Game Changing Development."
— NTRS 20260000603, page 2
On the Moon¶
Manifested on IM-5, Intuitive Machines' first Nova-D landing, targeted for 2030 at Mons Malapert. In January 2026 its lander was still listed as 'TBD' by the team.
"The Intuitive Machines Nova-D lander will deliver six NASA CLPS science payloads to the lunar south pole."
— Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Deliveries - NASA Science
FO's role¶
Grade: none. No FO flight of SCALPSS, its new 2.x parts (cameras, laser grid, impact sensor) or its Langley-Marshall-Glenn team was found in FO's TechPort records, reports or pages; none of the team's NTRS papers mentions a flight test before the Moon. FO has flown plume-surface experiments by other teams: Auburn University's 3D plume-surface and crater measurements, which also use stereo photogrammetry, on parabolic flights (TechPort 106726, flights December 2023 and March 2024), and UCF's Ejecta STORM and EjectaBLAST. No source ties them to SCALPSS, so this is the same topic only, as the study's earlier traceback found for IM-1 and Blue Ghost Mission 1. Grade: none. The laser ejecta-sheet measurement and the impact sensor have no flight before IM-5 in the sources; they are the parts of this unit a pre-CLPS flight test could reach. That is the study's remark, not the team's.
"No FO flight of SCALPSS or its Langley team."
— earlier finding of this study (not a public source)"no FO flight of the instrument or its Langley team; other FO plume-surface payloads are a topic match only"
— earlier finding of this study (not a public source)"Three-Dimensional Plume-Surface Interaction and Crater Formation Dynamic Measurements in Reduced Gravity Environments"
— TechPort project 106726, title (FO; lead Auburn University; PI David Scarborough)"photogrammetry technique enables the team to reconstruct these craters in three-dimensions"
— TechPort project 106726, description
Who built it¶
"Lead organization: NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia"
— NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon - NASA"Principal Investigators: Michelle Munk (retired) and Wesley Chambers"
— NTRS 20260000603, page 2 (SCALPSS payload overview, LSSW, 27 Jan 2026)"Project Manager: Robert Maddock"
— NTRS 20260000603, page 2"NASA Marshal Research Center: - principle investigator"
— NTRS 20250001741, page 2 (CLPS CS-6 payload workshop, Feb 2025)"NASA Glenn Research Center: - particle impact sensor"
— NTRS 20250001741, page 2
Moon Base need¶
"Similar imaging suites could be used to provide comparative data for different lander configurations"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-017 L: In situ measurement of particle velocity during lunar plume surface interaction (PSI) phenomena, Current state of data, the data-gap row's own words"Regolith particle sizes, speeds, and angles of ejection caused by rocket exhaust"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-017 L: In situ measurement of particle velocity during lunar plume surface interaction (PSI) phenomena, target measurement parameters"Characterize the landing site alteration caused by rocket exhaust plumes interacting with"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: DN-018 L: In situ measurement of landing site alteration imaging at small scale on the lunar surface, description"the first to require a larger cargo class (Nova-D) lunar lander"
— Intuitive Machines Expands Lunar Surface Operations with"requires a detailed understanding of how launch from the surface affects lunar regolith and nearby assets"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: What the architecture says the Moon Base needs, Users Guide challenge 'Small cargo return', citing DN-017 L and DN-018 L"Now–2029 | 2029–2032 | 2032–Beyond"
— Moon to Mars knowledge base: Moon Base phases, phase dates on NASA's web pages
Open questions¶
- Who chose SCALPSS for CT-4, and under what call? The team listed it for CT-4 before the lander award; the decision is not public.
- What SCALPSS 2.x costs, and what this unit costs: not in public sources. STMD GCD budgets are not published; the purchase orders found cover several units and do not say which.
- Will the laser grid and particle impact sensor be tested in flight (aircraft, drone, test lander or suborbital) before IM-5? Not in public sources; the papers describe lab and vacuum-chamber tests only.
- Is the IM-5 unit the same design as SCALPSS 2.0 on Blue Ghost Mission 4, and which will fly first? Not in public sources.
- IM-5's launch date: not in public sources (landing targeted for 2030).