MPE, THE GERMAN LUNAR MOBILE PAYLOAD ELEMENT

Paper number

IAC-11,A3,2.P,4,x9781

Author

Dr. Peter Hofmann, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Juergen Burfeindt, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Lutz Richter, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Friedhelm Claasen, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Norbert Henn, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany

Year

2011

Abstract

Europe is presently preparing for a robotic mission to the Earth Moon. The mission under study called Lunar Lander  is aiming for a moon landing in the year 2018. The Lunar Lander is capable of a precise landing near the lunar south-pole and shall have a payload of approx. 60 kg.

Late 2010, the German Space Agency, DLR, invited the German industry to submit a proposal for a study about a Mobile Payload Element (MPE) which, as a baseline, could be a German national contribution to the Lunar Lander ESA Mission. MPE is designed to be a small autonomous innovative vehicle of roughly 10-12 kg for scouting the environment in the vicinity of the lunar landing site. It shall have a small scientific payload on board with the added capability of acquiring soil and rock samples and transporting them to the lander.

Kayser-Threde, Germany, as the Phase 0/A industrial prime, has assembled relevant German industrial and institutional competences in space robotics for this study. The core study team led by Kayser-Threde consists of the companies von Hoerner & Sulger in Schwetzingen and Astrium in Bremen, and two institutes, the DLR Institute for Robotics & Mechatronics in the Greater Munich area and the German Institute for Artificial Intelligence, DFKI, in Bremen.

Commencement of the study is planned for early April 2011. At the beginning, a short first phase of roughly three months performs (and repeats) principle trade-offs between various concepts, such as wheels versus tracks, tethered concepts, etc. Phase A will consolidate the selected concept in more detail.

The paper shall describe the status of the project at the time of the Congress.

Abstract document

IAC-11,A3,2.P,4,x9781.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-11,A3,2.P,4,x9781.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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