The DSL mission consists of 9 small satellites that collect signals from deep space and one mother satellite that gathers data to send back to Earth.
Illustration of a satellite fleet orbiting the Moon. (Photo: CAS)
Chinese scientists have proposed the launch of the Deep Space Long-Wave Exploration (DSL) mission, also known as Hongmeng, with the aim of deploying 10 satellites into orbit around the Moon to observe the ancient universe, according to Space on August 7. This satellite fleet can capture weak cosmic signals by using the Moon to block electromagnetic interference caused by human activities on Earth.
The mission aims to gain insights into the “cosmic dark ages”—the mysterious period before the first stars began to shine—by collecting extremely long and weak wavelengths of light emitted from hydrogen atoms formed during the Big Bang.
The 9 small satellites will collect weak signals from deep space while operating on the far side of the Moon, where Earth-based interference is minimized. The mother satellite, operating on the near side of the Moon, will gather information from the small satellites and transmit data back to Earth.
Low-frequency signals from the early universe are very difficult or impossible to detect on Earth due to the ionosphere. Therefore, this new proposal is an innovative alternative to placing a fixed telescope on the far side of the Moon—a more costly and challenging approach, according to Chinese space scientist Wu Ji.
The DSL mission is led by Chen Xuelei, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It is one of several missions in the fields of astronomy, exploration, Earth science, solar physics, and exoplanets competing for approval under CAS’s New Horizons Program. DSL could receive official approval in the coming weeks, according to SCMP.
