LUMINA AI framework developed to assist lunar mission planning

Gokce Inal, a PhD candidate at The Ohio State University, has developed LUMINA, an artificial intelligence framework designed to support lunar exploration and mission planning.

LUMINA functions as a decision-support system that helps scientists evaluate potential landing sites on the moon. The model is capable of identifying geological hazards, scouring new regions for scientifically valuable features, and locating resources such as water ice.

Built upon the LLaVA-LE lunar vision-language foundation model, LUMINA can perform multistep analyses and provide scientific commentary to explain its recommendations. The system aims to bridge the gap between planetary science and AI by helping researchers process the massive datasets and images required for future space missions.