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A favored launch vehicle is the extended H-IIA of Japanese manufacture, and a derivative of the Russian Phobos lander would deliver the rovers to the lunar surface. Each rover has a mass of 240 kg, generates 430 watts of electricity from solar arrays, and uses isotope units to provide 325 watts of heat to hibernate at night. ...The Lunar Rover Initiative (LRI) is producing technological and programmatic steps toward a commercial robotic expedition on the Moon at the turn of the millennium. ...Two teleoperated rovers will commemorate Apollo Era lunar landings by revisiting the historic sites of Apollo 11, Surveyor 5, Ranger 8, Apollo 17 and Lunokhod 2 during a two year, 2000km trek.

This study addresses the possibility of beaming laser power from synchronous lunar orbits (the L1 and L2 LaGrange points) to a manned long-range lunar rover. The rover and two versions of a satellite system (one powered by a nuclear reactor; the other by photovoltaics) are described in terms of their masses, geometry, power needs, mission and technological capabilities. ...Laser beam power is generated by a laser diode array in the satellite and converted to 30 kW of electrical power at the rover. Present technological capabilities, with some extrapolation to near future capabilities, are used in the descriptions. ...The advantages of the two satellite/rover systems over other such systems and over rovers with on-board power are discussed along with the possibility of enabling other missions.

The Desert Research and Technology Studies 2007 testing events included three test scenarios which were each tested using extravehicular activity (EVA), autonomous rover and teleoperated rover modes of operation. Task time efficiency data was collected for each mode for comparison. ...The site survey scenarios consisted of rover travel through a grid of Global Positioning System waypoints with data collection occurring at each waypoint.

A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) on the rover provides an electrical power of 110 W for use in the rover and the science payload. Unlike the solar arrays, MMRTG provides a constant electrical power during both day and night for all seasons (year around) and latitudes. ...The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission to land a large rover on Mars is being prepared for Launch in 2011. A Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) on the rover provides an electrical power of 110 W for use in the rover and the science payload. ...One of the challenges for MSL Rover is the thermal management of the large amount of MMRTG waste heat. During operations on the surface of Mars this heat can be harnessed to maintain the rover and the science payload within their allowable limits during nights and winters without the use of electrical survival heaters.

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL1) mission to land a large rover on Mars is being planned for Launch in 2009. As currently conceived, the rover would use a Multi-mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) to generate about 110 W of electrical power for use in the rover and the science payload. ...As currently conceived, the rover would use a Multi-mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) to generate about 110 W of electrical power for use in the rover and the science payload. Usage of an MMRTG allows for a large amount of nearly constant electrical power to be generated day and night for all seasons (year around) and latitudes. ...The basic architecture of the thermal system utilizes this waste heat on the surface of Mars to maintain the rover's temperatures within their limits under all conditions. In addition, during cruise, this waste heat needs to be dissipated safely to protect sensitive components in the spacecraft and the rover.

This paper discusses the Inukshuk landed rover mission to Mars that is currently undergoing the Phase 0 mission study for the Canadian Space Agency. ...The Inukshuk landed rover mission addresses key science themes for planetary exploration; focusing on the search for hydrated mineralogy and subsurface water sites that can provide evidence of past or present life. ...New exploration and science will be accomplished using an innovative tethered combination of a small rover and a self-elevating sky-cam aerostat. The elevating visible (VIS) imager, at about 10 m altitude, will provide an informative high-resolution 2-D view of the rover below and surrounding terrain to greatly assist the semi-autonomous navigation of the rover around obstacles and selection of sites for detailed subsurface exploration.

For instance, the electrical power that is available for thermal control of Mars rovers on the Martian surface is limited. Because of this limitation, the thermal control systems for the new generation of Mars rovers were required to be absolutely passive. ...Because of this limitation, the thermal control systems for the new generation of Mars rovers were required to be absolutely passive. A prototype of a miniature variable conductance LHP with a three-way valve was developed and built in 1999 for evaluation as the thermal control unit for the Mars ‘03/’05 rover. ...A prototype of a miniature variable conductance LHP with a three-way valve was developed and built in 1999 for evaluation as the thermal control unit for the Mars ‘03/’05 rover. This LHP has two condensers, one integrated with the internal equipment which needs to be heated and the other serving as an external radiator.

NASA's Constellation program has selected the closed cycle hydrogen oxygen Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) as its baseline solar energy storage system for the lunar outpost and manned rover vehicles. Since the outpost and manned rovers are "human-rated", these energy storage systems will have to be of proven reliability exceeding 99 percent over the length of the mission.

A typical example is the exploration of the Moon with the installation on the Moon surface of a base inclusive of pressurized habitats and rovers. For this kind of application it has been identified as potential candidate the utilization of Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) System. ...Thales Alenia Space has been supported in this activity by Politecnico di Torino and Hysytech.TAS-I with the associated team, has developed a 10 kW breadboard of a RFC System and in parallel a preliminary concept of a RFCS for a Pressurized Lunar Rover. The preliminary results on this subject are used to perform a reasoned comparison between this innovative technology w.r.t.

The two tasks were a site survey for lunar outpost (using the Science, Crew, Operations, and Utility Testbed (SCOUT) rover) and deployment of a solar power system with cables. For both of these tasks, the team acquired quantitative data on human-robot interaction that can be used to determine task efficiency indexes to compare the operational scenarios of robots, humans, and human-robot teams.

Additional surface assets, such as rovers, can also be powered from the same orbiting satellites, requiring only the additional mass of a receiver.

Similar to the IDD (Instrument Deployment Device) on the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER), Phoenix has a Robotic Arm (RA) which is equipped with a scoop to dig into the icy soil and to deliver the soil samples to instruments for scientific observations and measurements.

Teaming to win Oregon State University and Duale Hochschule Baden-Wurttemberg-Ravensburg announce global formula racing collaboration. Exploring Michigan's solar continuum A look back at the winning car's solar energy management strategy reveals the crucial role of software tools in the success. Engineering is art At Audi, design and engineering work together to create vehicles that meld aesthetics with physical necessity.