Progress in Detection of Outgassing RadoN (DORN) on lunar surface

Radon is the decay products of uranium and thorium. Monitoring the radon cycle on the lunar surface could provide critical insights into gas transport mechanisms and internal geological activity on the Moon. The China-France Detection of Outgassing RadoN (DORN) instrument, equipped with a highly sensitive silicon semiconductor detector, measures α particles emitted by the decay of radon and its daughter nuclides. Designed to exclude interference from other particles in the lunar environment, DORN also incorporates a Polonium-209 calibration source to address contamination issues encountered in prior missions. As part of China’s Chang’e-6 far-side lunar mission, DORN—the first active French instrument deployed on the Moon—conducted the first in-situ radon measurements on the lunar surface. Combined with orbital observations, it returned 1059.54 Mbits of scientific data. These findings are expected to yield new constraints on the sources, spatiotemporal distribution, and transport mechanisms of radon and other volatiles. This collaboration not only highlights China’s aerospace technological capabilities but also establishes a pioneering model for international cooperation in deep-space exploration.