Demonstrating Technologies for Lunar Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-08.A5.2.3
- Author
Dr. Christopher Moore, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Headquarters, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
NASA is demonstrating prototype surface mobility, EVA, and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) systems for lunar exploration in desert field tests. These tests allow system developers to validate design concepts in terrestrial environments that simulate the lunar surface. The tests also prove the feasibility of operational concepts to inform future mission architecture studies and the definition of requirements. By adding technology improvements to the prototype systems every year, the advanced capabilities needed for lunar exploration are grown in small, affordable steps. A small pressurized rover is being developed that will allow the crew to explore hundreds of kilometers away from the lunar outpost. Spacesuits are attached to the exterior of the pressurized crew compartment through an interface called a suit-port. Astronauts will enter the spacesuits through the suit-port and rapidly detach from the cabin to perform EVA. A mockup of this rover will be field tested in June, 2008. During the same test, a crane for offloading payloads from the lunar lander, and a six-legged robot for transporting habitats to the lunar outpost assembly site will also be demonstrated. NASA is also developing a prototype system for producing oxygen and water from lunar regolith. This system will be integrated with another small rover and a subsurface sampling drill. The rover and its onboard ISRU system will be field tested in November, 2008 to simulate a mission that would prospect for lunar ice in the permanently shadowed craters. NASA is working with its international partners to define technology experiments that could be flown on planned robotic precursor missions to the Moon. These experiments include demonstrations of autonomous precision landing, optical communications, ISRU, low-temperature batteries and electronics, and sensors to characterize the lunar dust and radiation environments.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A5.2.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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