Prospecting Rovers for Lunar Exploration

J. B. Graham
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引用次数: 8

Abstract

A study of rover options for exploring the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar environment is presented. The potential for nearly continuous solar illumination and the possible existence of substantial water ice deposits focus the exploration planner's attention on the polar regions of the Moon. These regions feature permanently shadowed craters that, remote sensing data suggest, may contain water ice. This water ice, if present, can be converted to fuel cell reactants, breathing oxygen, potable water, and rocket propellant, all vital resources for the ultimate exploration of the moon and the solar system. To provide early ground truth on the existence and abundance of this water ice for subsequent mission planning purposes, the NASA lunar precursor robotics program (LPRP) sponsored a study of potential prospecting rover concepts as one part of the LPRP-2 pre-phase A studies. Numerous vehicle configurations were conceptualized to support a suite of prospecting and scientific measurement equipment for sustained operations in a permanently shadowed crater. Trades and analyses were performed for key functions including mobility, power, and thermal management. Rover options in the 400 to 530 kg class are developed which are capable of either confirming the presence of water ice at the poles or conclusively demonstrating its absence.
月球探测探测车
研究月球车的选择探索永久阴影区域的月球环境提出。潜在的几乎连续的太阳光照和可能存在的大量水冰沉积物使探索计划者的注意力集中在月球的极地地区。这些地区的特征是永久阴影的陨石坑,遥感数据显示,这些陨石坑可能含有水冰。这些水冰如果存在,可以转化为燃料电池反应物、氧气、饮用水和火箭推进剂,这些都是月球和太阳系最终探索的重要资源。为了为后续任务规划提供关于水冰存在和丰富程度的早期地面真相,NASA月球前体机器人计划(LPRP)赞助了一项潜在勘探探测车概念的研究,作为LPRP-2前期a阶段研究的一部分。许多车辆配置被概念化,以支持一套勘探和科学测量设备,以便在永久阴影的陨石坑中持续运行。交易和分析进行了关键功能,包括流动性,电力和热管理。400到530公斤级的探测车正在开发中,这些探测车要么能够确认两极存在水冰,要么能够最终证明其不存在。
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