A proposed space mission intends to place a miniature satellite, roughly the size of a small carry-on suitcase, into lunar orbit to investigate the universe’s earliest periods by utilizing the far side of the Moon as a natural shield. According to the Innovationnewsnetwork, the CosmoCube mission hopes to launch within the next five years and has received funding from the UK Space Agency. Details about the mission were published in Nature Astronomy, according to Courthousenews.
Proposed CosmoCube Mission Aims to Listen to the Early Universe from Behind the Moon
Led by an international team from the University of Cambridge, researchers plan to search for a radio frequency signal emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms over 13.5 billion years ago. This signal, known as the 21-centimetre line or H-line, originates from the cosmological dark ages
between the Big Bang and the Cosmic Dawn when the first stars and galaxies emerged. Lead author Professor Eloy de Lera Acedo from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory explained that tracking the physical temperature of the gas during this era could clarify how dark matter helped pull hydrogen together into the first stars and galaxies. The mission may also provide insights into dark matter-baryon interactions and help shed light on the Hubble tension regarding the universe’s expansion rate, as reported by the RAS.
Overcoming Earth Interference Using Lunar Shielding
Detecting the 21cm signal from Earth is exceptionally difficult because ground-based instruments face severe interference from FM radio, satellites, telecommunications, and the planet’s ionosphere. To bypass these obstacles, CosmoCube will operate behind the Moon, which acts as a natural shield. As the satellite’s two-hour orbit takes it past the far side of the Moon, it will experience approximately 40 minutes of protection from Earth’s radio racket during each cycle, as detailed by the Innovationnewsnetwork. Professor David Bacon from the University of Portsmouth noted that the team must travel to the quieter side of the Moon to capture these ancient signals.
Over a planned two-year mission, the satellite will build up thousands of hours of data while operating at extremely low frequencies. When in orbit, CosmoCube will deploy a lightweight radio antenna and use a Dicke switched
calibrator to monitor and correct its own electronics, canceling out internal noise and drifts to ensure data accuracy. Back on Earth, researchers plan to apply advanced Bayesian statistical methods, computer simulations, and in-flight measurements to remove foreground noise, such as emissions from the Milky Way, and correct antenna distortions.
Budget, Timeline, and Emerging Challenges
The total cost of the CosmoCube mission is estimated to be under £50 million, with more than £2 million already committed by the UK Space Agency under its Science Bilateral Programme, according to The Guardian. The hardware, software, implementation, and technology are all being developed in the UK by a UK-led international consortium.
Despite the mission’s relatively low-cost and compact platform, researchers face a potential race against time. Other planned lunar missions by nations such as the United States and India are multiplying, which could introduce human-generated radio noise to the Moon’s far side and threaten the radio silence required for the observations.
Продолжение темы
