Evaluation of Optical Absolute Navigation Method Using Craters for Lunar South Pole Landing

Kurzfassung

The Moon is an ever trending target for many current and future missions. Also ESA wants to land on the Moon within the context of the European Large Logistics Lander program. Likewise many of the other missions ESA is specifically interested to land very close to the Lunar south pole. While the pole is a very interesting scientific target it is very demanding from a technical point of view. The terrain is rough and the illumination conditions are extremely challenging. Precision landing capabilities are required, calling for the use of absolute navigation. In this paper it is demonstrated that vision based absolute navigation can be used even in these challenging illumination conditions. In the paper it is shown that the south pole is sufficiently illuminated to design approach trajectories viable for optical navigation in a robust manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate on one such trajectory that absolute navigation can deliver results up to at least 600 m above the south polar landing site. Concluding that DLR’s crater navigation system is a key asset for safe and successful landing on the Moon also at the lunar south pole.