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 USD 79.5 million to carry 14 payloads to the moon including a CubeRover in July 2021.[2] 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][3][4] 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.[5]
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.[3] 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][3]
Mission type | Technology demonstrator |
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Operator | Astrobotic Lab and Carnegie Mellon University |
Website | www |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Andy[6][7] |
Spacecraft type | Robotic lunar rover |
Bus | CubeRover |
Manufacturer | Planetary Robotics Lab[8] |
Dry mass | 33 kg (73 lb)[8] |
Dimensions | Height: 103 cm[8] |
Power | 100 W from 0.5 m2 solar panel[8] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2021 on the Peregrine lander[2] |
Rocket | Atlas V |
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[9] 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][3] 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 in 2021.[2]
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.[3] Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.[3]
A spinoff company was created in 2018, called CubeRover, and it is based in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.[10] Its President is Mike Provenzano. The company has support from Luxemburg and it is expected to collaborate with local universities and companies.[11][12] 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 in 2021 on board Astrobotic's Peregrine lander.[13]
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Missions are ordered by launch date. Sign † indicates failure en route or before intended mission data returned. |