Astrobotic will execute robotic lunar missions to collect exclusive data needed by space agencies and aerospace firms planning Moon expeditions. Accurate lunar surface data are key to cutting costs, accelerating schedules and enhancing safety.
Planners need a wide variety of information collected on the surface to enhance and confirm the less-detailed orbital observations of today’s lunar satellites. Astrobotic intends to collect these data sets starting in 2012 through a series of robotic missions to those areas on the Moon of high interest. Astrobotic’s missions will be self-financed, so customers pay for data only after it has been successfully collected. This contrasts with the current system of governments funding entire missions and bearing all risks of mission or sensor failure.
Astrobotic will create a “Digital Moon” by developing an integrated lunar library of company-collected data combined with information from open sources. Data types will range from radiation and soil characteristics to the performance of various components and materials in the lunar environment. Data products will range from raw collections to highly processed information solutions that meet our customers’ needs.
Astrobotic will select the goals for each mission through extensive consultation with its customers. For example, landers and surface infrastructure can be based on in-situ measurements of topography, dust conditions, soil mechanics, micrometeorite impact rates, illumination patterns, Earth-views for communications, and the like. Key materials and components for future projects can be delivered to the Moon by Astrobotic to characterize their performance in the actual lunar environment, rather than in simulations. Aerospace suppliers, for example, will be able to use Astrobotic missions to give their equipment “lunar heritage” – a tremendous advantage when competing for major lunar contracts.
In addition to data licensing, Astrobotic will deliver payloads, perform on-the-Moon services and generate interactive, high-definition media content for television, the Web, science centers and theme parks. These parallel revenue streams to defray mission costs are one reason that licensing data from Astrobotic will be very cost-effective for customers.
Equatorial mission to be followed by polar rovers
The company’s initial mission is the Tranquility TrekTM expedition planned for May 2011 to the historic Apollo 11 site. The company selected Apollo 11 as the initial destination both for its high public interest and for the ability to see how materials left there have weathered from radiation and micrometeorite bombardment. This will be key information for design of future outposts. The mission also aims to win the $20 million Google Lunar X Prize and demonstrate precision landing at designated destination, within meters of the intended coordinates.
The first rover will be equipped with stereo HD cameras and a telephoto HD camera as its primary data-gathering instruments. During the descent, the cameras will capture data on how the lander’s rocket motor plume disturbs the lunar regolith.
During the expedition, the cameras will be able to observe the rover’s wheels as they interact with the regolith, as well as how dust accumulates on the robot’s solar cells and radiator panels. The composite structure will be seeded with thermocouples for monitoring various locations’ status as the rover passes through the temperature extreme of the lunar day.
As shown in the below table, current planning has missions two and three directed to the poles because NASA and other agencies plan to establish permanent outposts there. The South Pole and North Pole scouts will compile detailed terrain maps and collect data requested by the customer communities.
Astrobotic’s anticipated fourth mission is the Lava Tube Explorer. This robot will scout lunar caves caused by lava flows, looking for ones with easy-to-traverse entrances and stable roofs. Human crews can shelter in lava tubes protetcted from radiation, and during the lunar night, they won’t be exposed to the extreme tw0-week cold soak. Lava tubes also may harbor volatiles from very early in the Moon’s history.
The fifth mission in the initial slate of projects intends to confirm the presence of water ice in the deep polar craters. Because ice would provide life support needs and valuable propellant for spacecraft returning to Earth, data about it will be exceedingly valuable. Descending into a permanently dark crater is an engineering challenge that Astrobotic intends to approach after gaining on-the-Moon operating experience.
The sixth mission will demonstrate construction methods and gather information on soil mechanics so that the power and machine sizes for future construction can be more accurately estimated.
