OUTPOST ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR LUNAR SURFACE PROSPECTING AND PROCESSING

摘要

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) will be needed in the future for cost-effective, safe and sustainable human outposts on the Moon and Mars. Some lunar ISRU processes may be feasible with Earth-based teleoperation, others may fail or become unsafe in a few seconds and therefore are likely to require some combination of automation and local crew control. The former is likely to be favored, since the lunar outpost is a stepping-stone to Mars operations, and nearly all ISRU processes on Mars are likely to require some degree of automation because of time lags. This paper discusses ISRU processes, requirements, and some robotic technologies that can or are being applied to ISRU prototype equipment and tasks in field tests.