Iris, which is a small robot the size of a shoebox, is the last remaining contender for the opportunity to be the US’s first commercial spacecraft to touch down on the moon within 50 years.
NASA has been sending rovers on Mars’ surface for many decades. Curiosity and Perseverance are the current rovers, which send back photos.
But, since the Apollo landings in 1972 and 1973 (50 years ago), the US-based NASA has not sent an aircraft to explore the Moon’s surface.
NASA has funded two contractors who have potential launch vehicles this year, including Houston’s Intuitive Machines and Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic.
These contracts, worth $70 millions each, allow the two companies to launch on the Moon in 2015 using a mix of United Launch Alliance and SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.
They are part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload service, that employs private firms to create service missions on the surface of the moon.
Iris, which is a small robot the size of a shoebox, is the last remaining contender for the opportunity to be the US’s first commercial spacecraft to touch down on the moon within 50 years.
NASA has funded two contractors who have potential launch vehicles this year, including Houston’s Intuitive Machines and Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic.
Iris is one of these rovers and has been attached to the Peregrine Lander by Astrobotic. It could reach the moon within the first half year.
Intuitive Systems, however, is currently testing Nova-C’s lunar lander. It will be carrying a small “spider-like” rover that was built by Spacebit Technologies in London.
Intuitive was awarded a NASA contract valued at $77 million to carry out its IM-1 mission. Astrobotic received a NASA contract valued at $79.5million for Peregrine Mission 1, and Intuitive a NASA contract valued at $77 million.
Both are designed for investigating landing spots and other resources to support the Artemis crewed mission, which will operate starting in 2025. The first man and woman to walk on the moon’s surface is scheduled for 2025.
John Thornton from Astrobotic stated in an interview with UPI that his first priority was, “I hope it succeeds – that’s the number one priority over all other things,” John Thornton, Astrobotic CEO, said.
“We are likely to be first but it’s not our goal. Success is the most important thing.”
This vehicle can be driven across the Moon’s surface using miniaturization technology.
CubeRover’s Iris vehicle is inspired by CubeSats, which are small and can be carried in a shoebox. It performs experiments in low-Earth orbit.
Twitter account of the firm said: “Last week, Astrobotic and NASA Glenn teams integrated the Photovoltaic Investigation on Lunar Surface (PILS payload) onto our Peregrine moon lander.
Iris is one of these rovers and has been attached to the Peregrine Lander by Astrobotic. It could send Iris to the moon during the first half year.
Intuitive Systems, however, is currently testing Nova-C’s lunar lander. It will be carrying a small “spider-like” rover that was built by Spacebit Technologies in London.
‘This means all NASA payloads & all powered commercial payloads (cargo) flying onboard Peregrine have been installed!’
Under a program started by Professor Red Whittaker and Astrobotic, students from Carnegie-Mellon University built the rover.
Thornton anticipates Astrobotic reaching the Moon first. However, he ‘cannot guarantee’ it as Intuitive Machines will soon be available.
Intuitive announced last week it has completed testing of its tracking network and will be able to communicate with Nova-C once it’s on the moon.
Peter McGrath, Intuitive Machines stated that this was a crucial step in returning the United States back to the moon surface via our IM-1 mission.
NASA provided funding for seven missions to land on the moon, also known as CLPs missions. The total cost of this investment was less than one billion dollars. This mission would have cost as much per launch back in the past.
Under a program started by Professor Red Whittaker of Astrobotic, students from Carnegie-Mellon University built the rover.
This vehicle can be driven across the Moon’s surface using miniaturisation technology.
Astrobotic has reserved space aboard a United Launch Alliance launch rocket for the mission to the Moon, while SpaceX will be carrying the Intuitive mission on its Falcon 9.
They will be able to carry payloads that are more appropriate for NASA or commercial customers.
Thornton explained that “there are a lot parts that need to be combined and COVID-19 a really thrown many of them for a loop.”
It’s high-end stuff and can be difficult to source. COVID-19 compounds that problem.
He said that the team is integrating propulsion systems to the spacecraft. The spacecraft should be ready for launch in about two months. After that, there will be some testing before the spacecraft is ready for launch.
Intuitive will be controlling their respective missions, while Astrobotic will handle the mission control.
Northrop Grumman, a Northrop Grumman company is developing a new vehicle for astronauts who want to travel around the Moon. This is despite uncertainty surrounding NASA’s Artemis mission.
NASA is not sure when its return to the Moon will occur. However, once it does it will need to determine what format it would like for its astronauts to travel around the lunar surface.
Northrop Grumman revealed Tuesday that the Lunar Terrain Vehicle is being designed by the company to ferry the agency’s Artemis astronauts about the moon.
The company is collaborating on the design of the rover with several companies such as AVL, Michelin tiremaker, Lunar Outpost, Intuitive Machines and AVL.
Just hours earlier, a watchdog government said that NASA may miss its goal of landing people on the moon by several years.
Northrop Grumman revealed Tuesday that it has designed a Lunar Terrain Vehicle, (LTV), to ferry its Artemis astronauts about the moon.