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In future missions, CubeRovers may be designed to take advantage of lander-based systems to shelter for the cold lunar night, that lasts for 14 Earth days.<ref name='David 2018'/> Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.<ref name='David 2018'/> |
In future missions, CubeRovers may be designed to take advantage of lander-based systems to shelter for the cold lunar night, that lasts for 14 Earth days.<ref name='David 2018'/> Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.<ref name='David 2018'/> |
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A spinoff company was created in 2018, called |
A spinoff company was created in 2018, called CubeRover, and it is based in [[Luxembourg City, Luxembourg]].<ref name='Latrell Oct 2018'>{{cite web |url=https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/commercial/astrobotic-spins-out-cuberover-opens-offices-in-luxembourg/ |title=Astrobotic spins out CubeRover, opens offices in Luxembourg |first=Joe |last=Latrell |work=Spaceflight Insider |date=2 October 2018}}</ref> Its president is Mike Provenzano. The company has support from Luxemburg and it is expected to collaborate with local universities and companies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/three-american-space-startups-to-establish-offices-in-luxembourg/ |title=Three American space startups to establish offices in Luxembourg |first=Jeff |last=Foust |work=SpaceNews |date=29 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://medium.com/life-on-the-other-planets-whats-new/cuberover-to-develop-low-cost-revolutionary-rover-in-luxembourg-64a184ac7ef1 |title=CubeRover to develop low-cost, revolutionary rover in Luxembourg |first=Kerry |last=Hebden |work=Asgardia |date=8 October 2018}}</ref> It is hoped that it will become a hub for small planetary rover design, manufacture, and assembly, as well as a shop. |
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The first derivative of a CubeRover, a spinoff rover called Iris developed by CMU students, is planned to be deployed on the Moon on board Astrobotic's ''Peregrine'' lander<ref>{{cite web|last=Spice|first=Byron|url=https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/may/iris-meets-milestone.html|title=Iris Lunar Rover Meets Milestone for Flight|work=Carnegie Mellon University News|date=14 May 2020|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> in 2022. |
The first derivative of a CubeRover, a spinoff rover called Iris developed by CMU students, is planned to be deployed on the Moon on board Astrobotic's ''Peregrine'' lander<ref>{{cite web|last=Spice|first=Byron|url=https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/may/iris-meets-milestone.html|title=Iris Lunar Rover Meets Milestone for Flight|work=Carnegie Mellon University News|date=14 May 2020|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> in 2022. |
CubeRover is a class of planetary rover with a standardized modular format meant to accelerate the pace of space exploration. The idea is equivalent to that of the successful CubeSat format, with standardized off-the-shelf components and architecture to assemble small units that will be all compatible, modular, and inexpensive.[1]
The rover class concept is being developed by Astrobotic Technology in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, and it is partly funded by NASA awards.[1] The Principal Investigator of the program is Andrew Horchler. In June 2019, Astrobotic Technology was awarded US$79.5 million to carry 14 payloads to the moon, including a CubeRover, no earlier than July 2021;[2] this mission is currently scheduled to launch in 2022.[3] This would make Carnegie Mellon University the first university in the world to fully develop a lunar rover and the first American entity to successfully pilot an unmanned lunar vehicle.[2]
The idea is to create a practical modular concept similar that used for CubeSats and apply it to rovers, effectively creating a new standardized architecture of small modular planetary rovers with compatible parts, systems, and even instruments so that each mission can be easily tailored to its objectives.[1][4][5] The rovers are expendable and do not use solar arrays for electrical power, depending solely on non-rechargeable batteries. This allows it to be lighter, have a larger cooling radiator panel for electronics, and have a simpler avionics design.[6]
The CubeRover program intends that standardizing small rover design with a common architecture will open access to planetary bodies for companies, governments, and universities around the world at a low cost, while increasing functionality, just as the CubeSat has in Earth orbit.[4] This would motivate other members of the space exploration community to develop new systems and instruments that are all compatible with the CubeRover's architecture.[1][4]
Mission type | Technology demonstrator |
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Operator | Astrobotic Lab and Carnegie Mellon University |
Website | www |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Andy[7][8] |
Spacecraft type | Robotic lunar rover |
Bus | CubeRover |
Manufacturer | Planetary Robotics Lab[9] |
Dry mass | 33 kg (73 lb)[9] |
Dimensions | Height: 103 cm[9] |
Power | 100 W from 0.5 m2 solar panel[9] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2022[3] on the Peregrine lander[2] |
Rocket | Vulcan Centaur |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
Moon rover | |
Landing site | Planned: Lacus Mortis |
Transponders | |
Band | Wi-Fi |
Instruments | |
Two cameras with 1936 × 1456 resolution | |
In May 2017 Astrobotic Technology, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, were selected by NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to receive a $125,000 award[10] to develop a small lunar rover architecture capable of performing small-scale science and exploration on the Moon and other planetary surfaces. During Phase I, the team built a 2-kg rover and performed engineering studies to determine the architecture of a novel chassis, power, computing systems, software and navigation techniques.
In March 2018, the team was awarded funds to move on to Phase II,[1][4] and under this agreement, Astrobotic will produce a flight-ready rover with a mass of approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb) that will fly on Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander to the Moon[2] in 2022.
In future missions, CubeRovers may be designed to take advantage of lander-based systems to shelter for the cold lunar night, that lasts for 14 Earth days.[4] Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.[4]
A spinoff company was created in 2018, called CubeRover, and it is based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.[11] Its president is Mike Provenzano. The company has support from Luxemburg and it is expected to collaborate with local universities and companies.[12][13] It is hoped that it will become a hub for small planetary rover design, manufacture, and assembly, as well as a shop.
The first derivative of a CubeRover, a spinoff rover called Iris developed by CMU students, is planned to be deployed on the Moon on board Astrobotic's Peregrine lander[14] in 2022.
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Missions are ordered by launch date. Sign † indicates failure en route or before intended mission data returned. |