Development of the Concept of Operations for depth-data collection on the Lunar Surface

Abstract

<p>Space start-ups, industry partners, and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services are all contributing to making space more accessible. Using low-cost technologies in partnership with these services furthers this accessibility opening the scientific exploration of data collected in space to a broader range of researchers. As part of MIT’s work with the Resources for Exploration & Science of OUR Cosmic Environment (RESOURCE) project with NASA Ames and the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, we are working with NASA Ames to develop the concept of operations (ConOps) for a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) LiDAR and RGB camera for lunar surface exploration in Virtual Reality (VR). This is a low-cost camera that has been evaluated for flight-compliant materials and modified to reduce mass. The camera was flight qualified to TRL 6 including thermal vacuum and random vibration testing. The camera is manifested on the Nova-C lander, which flies on the Intuitive Machines mission IM-2, landing at the lunar south pole for a mission duration of 14 days (one lunar daylight cycle).</p> <p>Here we discuss the development of the ConOps for this mission including four data-capture methods: 1) single target capture, 2) traverse capture, 3) raster capture and 4) single-target circumference capture. Using a custom software developed for the mission we optimized image resolution while minimizing data and power requirements through a series of ground tests.  The results were used to provide data requirements for each of the data-capture methods as well as to refine the rover motions needed to achieve optimal image quality. Camera settings for each method were also defined. Final ConOps are presented for the 14-day lunar mission with flexibility for real-time target definition.</p> <p>The data collected during this mission, as well as the lessons learned from the COTS camera modifications and ConOps development, will provide a low-cost opportunity for a broader range of scientists to access lunar surface exploration. Given the challenges associated with exploring craters and lava tubes, regions of interest for in-situ resource utilization, enabling exploration through VR could allow for safer methods for astronauts to both train for upcoming missions, such as the Artemis missions, and for robotic data collection to supplement astronaut exploration in challenging areas. These methods can also be expanded to sensitive environments on Earth providing a methodology to create a virtual environment to give access to areas like the Galapagos or the Antarctic to scientists around the world without increasing our environmental impact.</p>