Micro Rover Mission for Measuring Lunar Polar Ice

Abstract

Lunar ice, present at the poles, could be a source of water for drinking and growing crops, generating oxygen for breathing, and producing propellants for venturing beyond the moon to deep space. Viability of this grand vision depends on specifics of the accessibility, depth and concentration of the ice, which can only be determined by surface missions. This requires a campaign of diverse, repeated robotic explorations over time. This paper profiles MoonRanger, a micro-rover manifested on a 2022 NASA Commercial Lander Payload Services (CLPS) flight, which will be the first such mission, with its technologies, designs and operations for a pioneering in-situ measurement of lunar ice. The paper addresses the challenges of and solutions for micro-rover perception in darkness, navigation and mapping autonomy with limited computing, mechatronic miniaturization, mobility in polar terrain, thermal management, power generation, and others. MoonRanger's mission principles, designs, analyses and performance of the innovations, component technologies, rover, system and mission. Details covering rover design, its performance, and system elements such as stow-deploy, power, avionics, thermal, software and communication scenarios are articulated. The paper describes principles, instrument, and means for measuring ice. System considerations such as ConOps, ground control, and risk posture are addressed. The paper touches on the creative, operational, lean and resourceful development culture that is producing this. The paper concludes by discussing the “firsts”, the impacts of the technical contributions, the status of the development, and the path to mission.