Testing Rover Instrumentation for Lunar Water Exploration Missions
Open Access
Author:
Alhefeiti, Mohamed
Area of Honors:
Electrical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Sven G Bilén, Thesis Supervisor Julio Urbina, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Testing PSR Permanently Shadowed Regions Moon Lunar Rover missions Thermal-Vacuum Chamber
Abstract:
In the near future, many of the proposed Moon missions are geared towards investigating methods
of in-situ resource utilization. Rover missions are being developed to explore water ice in
permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole. Exploring permanently shadowed regions
poses unique challenges for on-board instrumentation and their functionality. This thesis outlines
the requirements for rover missions in permanently shadowed regions, and the environmental conditions
that rovers will be exposed to in such regions. Furthermore, the paper examines methods
of testing rover instruments against different environmental factors, specifically vacuum, pressure,
temperature, and radiation levels. A proposed design of a compact thermal–vacuum chamber to
perform the required testing for electronic instruments, and the operating parameters needed to
meet the minimum requirements for permanently shadowed region missions are also specified.
The testing method outlined in this thesis can be used as a guide for testing of other types of
instruments that may be exposed to similar environments on other celestial bodies.