BroadSCOPE: An Optical Broadband Seismic Sensor for Planetary Exploration
Seismology is crucial for the geologic and interior exploration of planetary bodies. High signal-to-noise (SNR) instruments are required to record low amplitude seismic events such as deep moonquakes. Here we describe the Broadband Seismic Characterization using Optics for Planetary Exploration (“BroadSCOPE”) sensor, a broadband planetary seismometer built by Silicon Audio and the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. Our laser interferometer design offers high sensitivity and a high tilt tolerance, while maintaining low power and mass. Our self-noise floor is targeted at $10^{-9}~\\text{m}\\,\\text{s}^{-2}/\\sqrt{\\mathrm{Hz}}$ at frequencies of about 1 Hz. We have performed environmental testing to reach a Technology Readiness Level of 6 for lunar conditions. This instrument was specifically developed for the Moon under NASA’s Development and Advancement of Lunar Instrumentation (DALI) program and matured by the Artemis Deployed Instruments opportunity. While designed for the Moon, the sensor could be used to explore other airless bodies such as binary asteroids.
Authors
- R. C. Weber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1649-483X)
- D. R. Golish (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6159-539X)
- Angela G. Marusiak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6925-1383)
- V. J. Bray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7277-3980)
- D. N. DellaGiustina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5643-1956)
- K. J. Walsh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0906-1761)
- C. A. Bennett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0972-6321)
- N. C. Schmerr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3256-1262)
- M. Benna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2770-4820)
- Brad Avenson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8780-5607)
- Ronald‐Louis Ballouz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1772-1934)
- Daniel Hofstadter
- Donghwan Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0109-2595)
- Eric Reiss
- Eric Johnson
- Steven Meyer
- Ryan Martineau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2484-6764)
- Timothy Neilsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4519-4054)
- S. “Hop” Bailey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4440-6155)
- Kris Zacny (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4839-2619)
Institutions
- Southwest Research Institute (US)
- Marshall Space Flight Center (US)
- Planetary Science Institute (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- Honeybee Robotics (United States) (US)
- University of Arizona (US)
- Analytical Services (US)
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (US)
- Energy Dynamics (Norway) (NO)
- Silicon Audio (United States) (US)
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Space Science Reviews
- Published
- 2026-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-026-01316-4
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Seismic Waves and Analysis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.85
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration