Astrobotic unveils lunar polar robot

10th October 2012

Astrobotic has announced completion of a prototype lunar prospecting rover – Polaris – to search for water ice at the Moon's poles.

The rover will prospect for water, oxygen, methane and other volatiles which could be useful for energy, supporting life, and producing rocket fuel. "This rover is a first step toward using off-Earth resources to further human exploration of our solar system,"said John Thornton, President of Astrobotic.

Polaris is specialised for drilling at the Moon’s pole which is characterised by low glancing sun angles and operation near shadowed regions that can reach cryogenic temperatures. The rover is tall enough to deploy a 4ft drill and produce 250W of power with solar panels oriented toward the Sun, which stays just above the horizon.

Polaris, 5½ feet tall, 7 feet wide and nearly 8 feet long, moves at about a foot a second on 2-foot-diameter wheels.  The rover weighs 150 kilograms (330 pounds) and can accommodate a drill and science instruments of up to 70 kilograms (150 pounds).

Computer vision will determine the rover’s position on the Moon with 10ft accuracy. "It’s game changing for lunar surface exploration and we’re the ones to pursue it," said William “Red” Whittaker, CEO.  Without GPS, Polaris will match surface pictures with satellite imagery taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to determine its location on the Moon. The rover features wheels and chassis beams constructed of light, tough composite materials. The lighter structural materials minimise overall weight, while accommodating the heavy drill and massive batteries required for this mission.

Polaris would launch from Cape Canaveral atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The lunar day lasts about 14 Earth days, though only about 10 days are suitable for water prospecting at the poles. The Astrobotic team expects Polaris could drill up to 100 holes during that time as it locates and characterises water ice deposits. But if Polaris successfully survives the long, frigid lunar nights, as anticipated, the prospecting mission could be extended indefinitely.

Astrobotic has already won nine lunar contracts from NASA worth $3.6 million, including one to evaluate how Polaris can accommodate NASA’s ice-prospecting instruments during a three-mile traverse near the Moon’s north pole. Working in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, Astrobotic is seeking to win the Google Lunar X Prize of $20 million.

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