Astrobotic robots will capture the “magnificent desolation” described by Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin in both high definition video and 3D video – the first planetary robots to accomplish either feat. Twin HD cameras will give armchair explorers back on Earth the opportunity to see the Moon with the clarity and depth perception enjoyed by the 12 astronauts who walked its strange surface.
Expedition Highlights
- Blasting off from Cape Canaveral with a view from the spacecraft as the Earth falls away, shrinking to a blue marble in the vast blackness of space
- Plummeting down to the alien lunar surface, dodging last minute obstacles to find a safe spot to alight.
- Rolling off its landing platform, the rover is piloted by an amateur driver selected in a reality show competition.
- Roaming the Moon with millions on Earth seeing everything with crystal clarity and the you-are-there impact of 3D vision.
- Inscribing drawings on to the lunar surface with the tracks left by the rover, from artwork submitted in a global call for inspiring designs
- Witnessing discoveries on how to establish self-sustaining robot and human villages on the Moon.
The destination of Astrobotic’s initial expedition will be determined by customer requirements. The possibilities include an Apollo site where the descent stage, flag and science gear was left behind, as well as a lunar pole where abundant water, methane, ammonia and other compounds are waiting to be thawed out and used. The complete list of potential targets is shown at the Destinations tab.
Technical notes
Stereo views from the Apollo expeditions drew the attention of these Carnegie Mellon students at an event showcasing the Astrobotic initiative
The expedition cameras will be at least capable of 1080p video (1920×1080 pixels) at a modest frame rate (nothing is moving on the Moon except for the rover, so high frame rates aren’t needed). Astrobotic is investigating whether higher resolution cameras (4K or 5K) can be hardened against radiation, vacuum and thermal challenges.
The twin HD cameras will be able to support any number of 3D playback technologies, from autostereoscopic displays (like the Nintendo 3DS) to polarized light used in theaters and most television sets down to red-blue anaglyphs viewed with inexpensive cardboard glasses.
