KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

CubeRover

About

About CubeRover

CubeRover applies the modular CubeSat unit standard to lunar surface mobility. Standard 2U, 4U and 6U versions provide one kilogram of payload capacity per unit, with enclosed volumes sized for cameras, spectrometers, radiation sensors and technology demonstrations.

Each rover supplies mobility, electrical power, communications and thermal protection for its payload. Four-wheel drive and visual-inertial navigation support surface traverses from a compatible lander. Astrobotic provides payload integration, mission planning, launch delivery and lunar operations through its commercial delivery service.

Capabilities

Source-backed capabilities

  • Operating environments: Laboratory lunar-regolith test bed
  • Control modes: Test Operator Controlled
  • Multi-terrain locomotion

    Research demonstration - 2020-12-22 - Drive over regolith dunes, turn in place and climb steep trench walls. - environment: Laboratory lunar-regolith test bed

    Source

Timeline

  • Astrobotic delivers first lunar CubeRover hardware to NASA

    2020-10-01 - Production Milestone - Astrobotic sent its first CubeRover hardware to NASA's Kennedy Space Center after three years of engineering work. The delivery completed a $750,000 NASA SBIR Phase 2 contract for a lightweight rover with flight characteristics. The CubeRover was designed as a modular lunar mobility platform for scientific instruments and commercial payloads.

    Source
  • Astrobotic CubeRover wins $2M NASA Tipping Point contract

    2019-10-02 - Contract Award - CubeRover received a $2 million NASA Tipping Point contract to mature the ultralight planetary rover product line. The rover was described as a shoebox-sized platform that can carry payloads or scout for larger rovers and landers. Astrobotic developed CubeRover with Carnegie Mellon University and NASA Kennedy Space Center input, with a planned Peregrine lunar mission flight.

    Source

Context

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