Researchers are developing a mission to study the early universe by placing a compact satellite into orbit around the moon. The instrument, designated CosmoCube, will attempt to detect the 21-centimeter line, a specific radio frequency signal emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms in the cosmos’s earliest periods.
The satellite will focus on detecting how this signal’s wavelength has shifted over cosmic time, effectively serving as a thermometer for measuring gas temperatures in the ancient universe. Scientists aim to examine conditions spanning from approximately 380,000 years after the big bang through the period when the first stars and galaxies formed, extending to roughly 1 billion years after the big bang. The 21-centimeter line’s characteristics may also provide insights into dark matter, the mysterious substance that comprises much of the universe.
Previous attempts to identify this signal using Earth-based instruments have encountered significant obstacles. The signal itself is inherently weak, and electromagnetic interference from human technology, including radio communications and aircraft systems, creates substantial challenges. Additionally, disturbances from Earth’s ionosphere have complicated observations. Although researchers at an Australian radio telescope claimed detection of the 21-centimeter line, scientific questions persist regarding those findings.
Placing the observatory on the moon’s far side is expected to substantially reduce these interference issues. The CosmoCube mission is anticipated to operate for two years, with a total cost estimated below £50 million and a launch window expected approximately five years from now. The UK Space Agency has already provided over £2 million in funding toward the project.
Experts outside the project have expressed qualified support for the initiative. However, observers note that multiple research groups are pursuing similar measurements, creating competition to achieve results first. Additionally, future lunar activities may introduce new sources of radio interference that could undermine the advantages of the far-side location, effectively creating a race against time for mission completion.
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