Moon News  
MOON DAILY
ESA plans mission to explore lunar caves
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Feb 25, 2021

In a first step towards uncovering the Moon's subterranean secrets, in 2019 we asked for your ideas to detect, map and explore lunar caves. Five ideas were selected to be studied in more detail, each addressing different phases of a potential mission.

In a first step towards uncovering the Moon's subterranean secrets, in 2019 we asked for your ideas to detect, map and explore lunar caves. Five ideas were selected to be studied in more detail, each addressing different phases of a potential mission.

Through these five Sysnova studies, three mission scenarios were developed - one to perform a preliminary scout of entry pits and underground caves from the Moon's surface, one to lower a probe into a pit and access the first part of a cave, and one to explore an underground lava tube using autonomous rovers.

"Although the studies were very different in topic and approach, they all provided great insight into potential technologies for exploring and investigating the geology of the Moon's subsurface," says Loredana Bessone, Technical Officer for the studies and Project Manager for ESA CAVES and PANGAEA, speaking soon after the results of the studies were presented. "It's been a fascinating journey, and a great opportunity for ESA to start looking into missions to explore lunar caves."

Bringing the ideas together with other ESA lunar exploration initiatives
As a combination that would give a maximum scientific return, teams behind two of the studies - one from the University of Wurzburg and one from the University of Oviedo - were selected to take part in an ESA Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) study. Both focusing on the second mission scenario, the technologies that these teams have developed would allow a safe exploration and documentation of a lunar pit as well as a first peek inside the tunnels that a pit may lead to.

Kicking off this week, the CDF study is integrating the results of the studies carried out by these two teams with plans for ESA's European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) and Moonlight initiatives. Whilst EL3 is a lander designed to enable a series of ESA missions to the Moon, Moonlight aims to provide navigation and telecommunications capabilities for lunar exploration.

The University of Wurzburg has been exploring the concept of lowering a probe using a tether to explore and characterise the entrance, walls and initial part of lunar lava tubes. These huge underground caverns are thought to have formed through lava flows billions of years ago.

Named Daedalus, the compact, spherical probe would be equipped with 3D lidar, stereo camera vision and an ability to move independently. By creating a 3D model of the inside of a lava tube, the probe could identify geological resources and seek out locations with stable radiation levels and temperature; this information could take us closer to building a human settlement on the Moon.

The University of Oviedo, meanwhile, has investigated deploying a swarm of small robots inside a cave. Working together with the University of Vigo and Alen Space, the focus of their research has been on overcoming the lack of sunlight - and therefore solar power - inside a cave, as well as how to transmit data from the robots to a rover on the Moon's surface.

The team's solution is to use a crane to lower the robots into a lava tube. Equipped with a solar panel, the rover would supply energy to the robots through the crane using a 'charging head' attached to the bottom of the crane. Being in sight of the robots, the charging head would supply energy wirelessly, as well as transmitting and receiving data.

Looking at the big picture and the small details
Continuing the research, the CDF study will design a lunar caves mission lasting one lunar day (14 Earth days), starting from the deployment of EL3. Focusing on the second mission scenario, the CDF study will also specify the individual subsystems of such a mission and ensure that they would all be able to work together.

"The CDF study will investigate details such as the energy requirements of the mission, the path that could be taken from the landing site to the pit rim, and the power and data budgets for descending into and mapping the pit," explains Francesco Sauro, cave scientist and planetary lava tube expert, as well as technical course director of ESA CAVES and PANGAEA. "It will also look at the interfaces between the rover and the robotic crane, as well as the crane and the Daedalus probe."

"Overall, the Sysnova and CDF studies are helping ESA to identify interesting technologies and develop roadmaps for the future. They are supporting the Agency to assess the feasibility of novel concepts for future missions."

Whilst the Moon's surface has been well documented by orbital spacecraft, it hides an underground world that remains a mystery. The shelter that lunar caves provide, as well as the access to water and other resources, could be vital for our future human or robotic exploration of the Moon. This makes these Sysnova studies - and the ensuing CDF study - a major step forward in achieving a lunar mission.

Discover more about each Sysnova study here in these various video presentations - see lower part of page.


Related Links
ESA Caves and Pangaea
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


MOON DAILY
China's lunar rover travels 652 meters on far side
Beijing (XNA) Feb 23, 2021
The lander and the rover of the Chang'e-4 probe have been switched to dormant mode for the lunar night after working stably for the 27th lunar day, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration. The lander was switched to dormant mode at 1:30 p.m. Friday (Beijing Time) as scheduled, and the rover, Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2), at 1:48 a.m. Friday, said the center. The Chang'e-4 probe, which was switched to dormant mode during the lunar night ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

MOON DAILY
Oregon experiments find that electrical sparks are possible on Mars

Martian moons have a common ancestor

Mars helicopter reports in, New color images available

America has sent five rovers to Mars -- when will humans follow?

MOON DAILY
Saturn's Tilt Caused By Its Moons

Astronomers estimate Titan's largest sea is 1,000 feet deep

SwRI models point to a potentially diverse metabolic menu at Enceladus

MOON DAILY
SwRI scientists image a bright meteoroid explosion in Jupiter's atmosphere

Solar system's most distant planetoid confirmed

Peering at the Surface of a Nearby Moon

A Hot Spot on Jupiter

MOON DAILY
NASA, Boeing update Starliner orbital flight test date

NASA's Perseverance rover beams back spectacular new images

Space for all is this student's goal

Space snapshot

MOON DAILY
New "metalens" shifts focus without tilting or moving

Nanowire could provide a stable, easy-to-make superconducting transistor

New technique builds super-hard metals from nanoparticles

Scientists see competition of magnetic orders from 2D sheets of atoms

MOON DAILY
Benchmark Space Systems and Orbit Fab Breaking Ground on Mobile Refueling Stations in Space

NASA welds Confidence Article for next evolution of SLS

NASA delays new test-firing of moon rocket

Russia plans at least 10 launches from Baikonur in 2021

MOON DAILY
China explores space with self-reliance, open mind

Xi lauds China's progress in space missions

China begins assembly of Long March 5B to launch space station core

Chinese tracking vessel sets sail for monitoring missions in Indian Ocean

MOON DAILY
Israel launches research nanosatellite to measure radiation in space

Brand new findings on fire safety in space

Falling to Earth takes a long time

Air Force tests suicide prevention training with virtual reality system









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.