Development of a multi-sensor suite for the investigation of environmental and habitability parameters for lava tubes on the Moon and Mars

Abstract

Even though the physical exploration of subsurfaces on other planets began during the Apollo program in the 1960s, researchers have primarily studied these features through remote sensing. Of scientific interest are skylights that could lead to subsurface caves and lava tubes, as they are shielded from harsh surface conditions and may have access to water ice which could potentially support safe habitats for future astronauts. To date, about 300 and 1000 of these candidate cave entrances have been identified on the Moon and Mars respectively by satellites such as the Lunar and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiters. More recently, radar data has confirmed the first accessible cave conduit tens of meters long below the Mares Tranquillitas pit on the moon. However, these methods are limited in resolution and further verification studies need to be conducted through on-ground robotic exploration. Existing robotic technologies suitable for planetary cave exploration are still under or equal to TRL 3, and the miniaturization of scientific instruments due to limited payload space need to be further developed, resulting in challenges with carrying out meaningful missions within engineering constraints. The DLR Scout Rover is used as a platform to test a compact payload suite for performing experiments, as it already overcomes some of the mobility and navigation challenges faced by current robotic solutions for accessing the subsurface. This project focuses on designing a compact multi-sensor suite and mission concept on board the Scout to explore the Mares Tranquillitas pit, consisting of a Environmental Suite and a Science Payload Suite. The primary mission objective is to assess the potential for astronauts’ habitability by gathering in-situ environmental data, and the secondary mission objective is to carry out a scientific mission. The results aim to provide a detailed pathway to design a compact sensor suite, and inform future missions in designing and optimizing complex cave exploration missions on board small rover platforms.