Rover to Retrace Apollo’s Footsteps

Sun-powered robot will examine lunar junk after four decades

By Sally Younger | Published Jul 23, 2009 11:59 PM EDT

Science

A view of the wheels and triangular solar panel of Astrobotic Technology's sun-powered moon rover. The rover is competing for Google's Lunar X-Prize of $25 million and will explore the Apollo moon landing site. via Inhabitat

Boiling noons and cryogenic nights will prove two of the hells inflicted upon a sun-fueled rover when it retraces Neil Armstrong’s first steps across the moon in 2011, beaming home high-definition footage along the way.

The solar-powered robot, designed by Pittsburg-based Astrobotic Technology, is competing for Google’s Lunar X-Prize of $25 million. Victory or no, the rover will visit Apollo 11’s landing site along the desolate equator, where it intends to study the affects of a lunar environment upon materials the mission left behind. Understanding how four decades of radiation and bombardment by minute meteorites impact earthly technology could help space agencies like NASA plan for future moon expeditions, the company says.

A half-cone of solar cells powers the pyramid-shaped rover while a sky-facing radiator keeps temperatures in check. Composite structures of carbon-fiber tape and resin ensure strength and lightness, and a pair of vacuum-tested motors on each side of its four wheels turns a bicycle-like drive chain. To help the rover endure the bi-weekly cycles of extreme cold, the team is currently striving to develop special packaging for its lithium-ion batteries.

[via Inhabitat]

Solar Rover Side View

A view of the wheels and triangular solar panel of Astrobotic Technology’s sun-powered moon rover. The rover is competing for Google’s Lunar X-Prize of $25 million and will explore the Apollo moon landing site.

Solar Rover Illustration

Here, Astrobotic Technology’s solar-powered moon rover traverses an illustrated lunar environment.

Solar Rover and Sponsors

Astrobotic Technology’s solar-powered moon rover sports the names of its sponsors on its pyramid-like frame, including Google and Carnegie Mellon University.

Solar Rover Top View

A top view of Astrobotic Technology’s solar-powered moon rover. It is designed to study the effect of 40 years’ exposure to the lunar environment on the materials left behind at the Apollo landing site.