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A test model of the Lunar Resource Prospector rover. Image via Lunar Outpost.
The goal of bringing explorers back to the Moon seems very far away, but is progress made, including in the private sector. Last week, Lunar Outpost, a Colorado-based aerospace company, introduced its new lunar rover concept for the first time. The rover – called the lunar resource prospector – was shown on November 13, 2018 at the wheel of a lunar regolith simulator in a new lunar test bed supervised by the Center for Space Resources of the Colorado School of Mines.
The rovers of the Lunar Resource Prospector are small and weigh only about 10 kilograms. This is in contrast to the Curiosity rover, a car-sized rover currently exploring the March Gale Crater with a mass of 1,892 pounds (899 kg). Yet swarms of small lunar rovers play a key role in the dream of establishing a permanent human presence on the moon.
For example, these small mobiles are designed to provide exploration data for what is called in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). That is, they are designed to travel to the moon before future crew missions, so that human missions can be organized more efficiently and effectively. The rovers will look for the necessary resources because future crewed missions will not be able to carry all the supplies they need. Instead, they will have to use the resources on the moon, such as water, precious metals, and Helium-3, a rare phenomenon on Earth.
Other robotic missions flying or in orbit on the moon have learned that these resources are there, on the surface of the moon. Data from previous missions were used to create general models of moon surface resources. According to Lunar Outpost, the models now require a ground check in order to establish the optimal landing sites and plan future resource extraction operations.
Another view of a test pattern of a mobile lunar prospector of resources. Image via Lunar Outpost.
As expected, lunar resource prospectors will explore the moon's surface autonomously, in groups, by mapping surface resources and underground resources. They will navigate along the planned waypoints, while avoiding obstacles and hazards such as rocks and craters. Mostly autonomous, they can also be exploited remotely, if necessary, by human astronauts.
If the orbital lunar platform gateway planned by NASA is implemented and built, the rovers could also use it as a central operations center.
All of this is helping to prepare permanent human settlements on the moon. As AJ Gemer, head of Lunar Outpost's technology, said, reverse:
We want to see as many people live and work on the moon as possible in our lifetime.
These robots differ considerably from previous missions, on the Moon and on Mars. On the moon, astronauts used only one vehicle on each of their landing sites. The Mars robot's missions consisted of a maximum of one or two highly sophisticated robots for a given mission, such as the twin MER, Spirit and Opportunity engines. Curiosity is a unique motive, even bigger and more advanced.
But lunar prospectors would operate in "swarms" of several rovers – called autonomous lunar prospecting swarms (ALPS). Not only can ALPS maps map much larger areas, but they also do not need to take breaks like their human operators.
Close view of a front wheel on the test pattern. Image via Lunar Outpost.
So what do these rovers, their design and their instruments look like?
I have mentioned that they are small (22 pounds or 10 kg) each. Even in this case, half of it is available for additional payloads other than navigation and prospecting, and rovers will be able to pierce the lunar surface and analyze these samples at depths greater than those measured by remote sensing missions. in orbit.
The rovers also have a forward-looking mass spectrometer to analyze the surface to locate resources in the most concentrated areas, which is similar to "tracking the ore vein" in the onshore mining operation. A 360 – space laser imaging, detection and telemetry system (LIDAR) will be used to create maps of surface features with unprecedented centimeter – scale resolution. This system will also allow ALPS to see in the dark – even in crater or lava tubes deep and shaded permanently. Lunar prospection will become a reality thanks to prospectors lunar resources!
The rovers will even be equipped with a 4K video capability, showing the lunar surface with better clarity than ever before.
NASA and ESA have plans for future bases on the moon. Companies like Lunar Outpost can contribute to its realization. Image via ESA / Foster + Partners.
Lunar Resource Prospector rovers are also economical: they can be mass-produced and customized for various tasks, which is vital for the space industry, where missions can be very expensive.
Lunar Outpost is expected to announce the details of the first mission in mid-2019.
In addition, the Lunar Resource Prospector rover mission should not be confused with NASA's Lunar Prospector orbital mission, which was launched on January 6, 1998. This mission was a single orbiter and had no connection to the front. lunar post.
Conclusion: Although it may still take a few years, private companies – as well as NASA and other space agencies – are getting closer to the moon, and are planning to settle there to stay permanently in human settlements. Using the latest technologies, robots such as Lunar Resource Prospector and other missions will help make this dream a reality.
Via Lunar Outpost
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