Rover
The rover is designed to withstand the challenging environmental conditions of the lunar surface, including the lack of an atmosphere, weaker gravity (1/6) compared to Earth, and surface temperatures varying ± 250°F. It is built using a lightweight aluminum structure supported by six independent, motorized wheels with rocker-bogie suspension (free of axles or springs). The 10-inch alumnium wheels with steel treads offer good stability and are well adapted to rocky sand or terrain.
- Mass: 300 kg
- Length: 3.0 m
- Wheelbase: 2.5 m
- Height: 1.6 m
- Maximum Speed: 150 m/hr
- Operating Speed: 90 m/hr
After landing on the moon, the rover will exit the lander via a ramp. The Earth station will issue commands for the rover, which generally instruct the rover to move to a particular goal location (or waypoint) and capture survey data. The rover logs telemetry data as it moves from the landing site. Once at the desired location, the rover captures and transmits terrain imagery to the Earth station, where it is used to generate a three-dimensional model of the terrain for base station navigators, and to create high-resolution maps of potential spaceport locations.
Components
An on-rover control system is responsible for power generation, processing, computation, data storage, and analog and digital I/O. It is built using a commercially-available central processing unit (CPU) and power boards.
A panoramic camera builds multispectral panoramas from color stereoscopic images. Two CCD cameras located on the mast are used to provide lithology and a clear view of local features (including the topography and geology). Six monochromatic navigation cameras are located on the front, back, and mast of the rover. A microscopic imager offer close high-resolution images of rocks and soil.
An alpha particle X-ray spectrometer observes rocks and analyzes the soil to determine its compactness and density. A penetrometer determines the strength of the lunar surface. A rock abrasion tool is built into a robotic arm, enabling the rover to drill into rock or another surface.
Thermal Protection
All thermally sensitive components are located within the Warm Electronics Box (WEB). Thermal readings are taken using an on-board thermal emission spectrometer. A 0.5-W heater attached to the frame is activated when necessary. Eight thermal sensors are used to gauge performance against temperature.
Testing
Prior to launch, the traction mechanics of the lunar rover will be evaluated in a testbed containing simulated lunar soil in a sandpit. (Slopes in the sand model craters on the moon.)
Lander
The lunar lander carries the rover to the surface of the moon and performs communication with the Earth station. It is built as an aluminum tubing tripod structure and contains an onboard control system and rock abrasion tool (similar to those on the rover), along with a high-definition television camera.
- Mass: 1000 kg
- Diameter: 3.5 m
- Height: 3.5 m
Estimated Expenses
The lunar rover will cost an estimated $50 million. The lunar lander will cost an estimated $75 million.