Prospecting Rovers for Lunar Exploration

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.