Resource Prospector (RP) - Early Prototyping and Development

Abstract

he Resource Prospector (RP) [1] is an In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technology demonstration mission under study by the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate's (HEOMD) Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division. The mission, currently planned to launch in 2020, will demonstrate extraction of oxygen from lunar regolith to validate ISRU capability. The mission will address key Strategic Knowledge Gaps (SKGs) for robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs), and ultimately Mars, as well as meet the strategic goals of the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER), offered by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). In this roadmap, the use of local resources is specifically addressed relating to human exploration [2] RP will provide knowledge to inform the selection of future mission destinations, support the development of exploration systems, and reduce the risk associated with human exploration. Expanding human presence beyond low-Earth orbit to asteroids and Mars will require the maximum possible use of local materials, so-called in-situ resources. The moon presents a unique destination to conduct robotic investigations that advance ISRU capabilities, as well as providing significant exploration and science value. Lunar regolith contains useful resources such as oxygen, water, silicon, and light metals, like aluminum and titanium. Oxygen can be separated from the regolith for life support (breathable air), or used to create rocket propellant (oxidizer). Regolith can be used to protect against radiation exposure, be processed into solar cells, or used to manufacture construction materials such as bricks and glass. RP will characterize the constituents and distribution of water and other volatiles at the poles of the Moon, enabling innovative uses of

Improving rover mobility through traction control: simulating rovers on the Moon

“…The nickname of the new rover is: "theia rover". This rover is based on the RP rover currently under testing by NASA (Andrews et al, 2015). For comparison purposes, a model of K-REX rover has also been used.…”

“…using the advanced robotic simulator ANVEL (Quantum Signal) with a new planetary exploration rover designed by the authors and called theia rover. This rover is inspired by the new rover under development by NASA for future missions to the Moon (Andrews, Colaprete, Quinn, Bluethmann, & Trimble, 2015). Additionally, a model of the NASA's K-REX rover (planetary exploration rover assembled by ProtoInnovations for NASA AMES) has been also used for comparison purposes.…”

Searching for potential ice-rich mining sites on the Moon with the Lunar Volatiles Scout

“…An instrument package similar to PROSPECT has been developed by NASA for the Resource Prospector, a solar powered lunar rover designed for exploration of the lunar South Pole. With a payload capacity of 90 kg, it was intended to carry the TRIDENT drill, the Oxygen and Volatile Extraction Node (OVEN), the Lunar Advanced Volatile Analysis (LAVA), the Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS) and the Near Infrared Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS) to prospect for volatiles in and around PSRs and down to a depth of 70 cm (Andrews, et al, 2015). Resource Prospector was cancelled, but some of its instrumentation may be reused in the new Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) program.…”

Resource Prospector (RP): A Cost-Effective Lunar Resource Pathfinder

“…Most recently, the Resource Prospector team completed the design and build of "RP15" [5] , a mission-in-a-year build of an entire terrestrial rover/payload system. RP15 is a Phase A "deep dive" ETU development, moving from concept to working hardware roving in a lunar-analogue rock yard in a single year.…”