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IBM and NASA Launch AI Model to Map the Moon
IBM and NASA made a new computer tool to study the Moon.
The tool uses artificial intelligence to examine many years of Moon observations.
It learned from data collected by nine instruments on four NASA missions.
It can help scientists look for ice in places that never receive sunlight.
It can also help map craters and find safer places for spacecraft to land.
The tool can study signs of old volcanic activity too.
Finding ice matters because it may provide water and oxygen for future astronauts.
NASA and IBM said the tool was up to 23% more accurate than common methods in tests.
IBM and NASA released an open-source AI model for analyzing lunar observation data.
The model was trained on more than 30 data layers from nine instruments on four NASA missions.
It can help identify possible ice deposits, map craters, and study lunar volcanic features.
The tool may support safer landing-site selection and planning for a sustained human presence on the Moon.
NASA and IBM said the model identified lunar features up to 23% more accurately than widely used methods.
- Who
- IBM and NASA released the model.
- What
- They launched an open-source AI model for analyzing lunar observation data and mapping features on the Moon.
- Where
- The model is designed for studying the Moon, including its permanently shadowed regions.
- When
- Thursday, according to the article.
- Why
- It is intended to help scientists find lunar ice, select safer landing sites, study volcanic features, and support plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon.
Key facts
- Model name
- NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model
- Availability
- Publicly available and open source
- Training data
- More than 30 layers of data from nine instruments on four NASA missions
- Notable mission
- The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter was among the missions contributing data
- Applications
- Ice detection, crater mapping, landing-site selection, and volcanic-feature analysis
- Benchmark result
- Up to 23% greater accuracy than widely used methods
- Potential resource
- Lunar ice may indicate water and oxygen useful for a future Moon base and rocket fuel for Mars missions
Sources
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