IBM is launching a new open source AI model to get NASA back to the Moon and making petabytes of lunar data available to study

Date:
Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Description:
IBM and NASA release one of the first open source AI models to spur on the next generation of lunar exploration.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter IBM and NASA launch open source AI model to help further lunar research Researchers will be able to better analyze petabytes of Moon data from last five decades IBM and NASA also release dataset for public usage and analysis IBM has launched a new open source AI model it hopes will help spur on NASA researchers in their push to get humanity back to the Moon.

The new NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation model, available on Hugging Face, will
allow researchers to analyze decades of lunar observation data, and identify geological features that are critical to understand for NASA as it looks to build a sustained human presence on the Moon. The model has been trained by IBM and NASA researchers on a huge, multimodal NASA dataset, which will also be released alongside the model, providing wider access to the latest
advanced AI systems in a bid to push on wider progress in lunar exploration. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: To the Moon (and beyond) At its most obvious level, the model will allow a much easier way for researchers to study petabytes of data gathered on the Moon's surface for potentially hazardous locations such as ice deposits or craters.

Currently, scientists often rely on manual analysis or low-resolution, task-specific AI models, which can be not only computationally demanding, but also often lack the accuracy needed for detailed geographic analysis. You may like NASA and Red Hat are building an open source medical system to diagnose sick astronauts on the ISS could a Star Trek Tricorder be next? Nvidia signs deal to deploy edge AI on future Moon missions Moonshot's new AI model Kimi
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The new release will now mean that instead of needing to build a new AI model for every potential issue, scientists can now adapt a single foundation model to investigate a range of lunar geologic features.

The model has already proved useful, identifying craters and volcanic
features far more accurately (see below) and significantly reducing errors in locating potential ice deposits. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news
and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. (Image credit: IBM) IBM, which has worked with NASA for over five decades, including on the Apollo missions, believes the model could help future astronauts navigate safely and even find essential resources, as well as helping scientists
better understand the Moon's geological history.

Uncovering the mysteries of the Moon requires an ability to learn from an extraordinary volume of scientific data, said Juan Bernabe-Moreno, Director
of IBM Research Europe, UK and Ireland.

The NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model gives scientists a foundation to explore the Moon at scale, connecting observations across instruments, revealing patterns that are difficult to see in isolation, and providing an open platform the global research community can build on. What to read next Why open source AI is worth fighting for AI in orbit: The next evolution of compute infrastructure Stop thinking of AI data centers as compute systems

The release of the dataset will mark the first time a unified, publicly-available cache has been made available and ready for machine learning. It brings together over 30 spatially aligned layers from nine instruments across four missions, including tens of thousands of images and maps showing unique geophysical properties of the lunar surface from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and NASAs GRAIL mission.

Identifying lunar ice deposits could be particularly vital, as the presence
of both water and oxygen will be crucial to establishing a human base on the Moon, and even creating rocket fuel for future Mars missions.

Scanning the Moon's volcanic features, known as Iregular Mare Patches, can allow scientists to better understand the Moon's volcanic history and thermal evolution, as well as helping identify potential sites for landing and other surface operations.

Finally, studying the Moon's craters can offer a wealth of information on its history, including the age of different terrains, their geology, and even the chemical composition of the early lunar interior - as well as again helping
to identify safe landing sites without hazards such as steep slopes and boulders. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/ibm-is-launching-a-new-open-source-ai-model-to-g et-nasa-back-to-the-moon-and-making-petabytes-of-lunar-data-available-to-study


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