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The robot will find water on the moon

30.10.2012

Astrobotic Technology Corporation has completed development of a full-size prototype of Polaris, a solar-powered robot that will search for water ice at the lunar poles. Polaris will be able to drill into the lunar surface and work in areas with long, harsh shadows and low sun above the horizon. Even though Polaris is a prototype, it has the same configuration as the rover that will land on the Moon's surface. The prototype will allow the Astrobotic team to conduct the necessary testing and improve the robot's vision and navigation systems, as well as its software, in the near future.

"This is the first rover designed specifically for lunar ice drilling," said William Whittaker, CEO and founder of CMU's Robotics Center. The technology needed to drill on the lunar surface was already being developed at the center, but none of the previous robots were planned to be sent into space.

Based on observations from NASA and India, it seems likely that there is a significant amount of water ice at the Moon's poles. This ice could be a source of water, fuel and oxygen for future expeditions. To find this ice, the rover must operate as close to the dark poles as possible, but still far enough away to be able to be powered by solar panels. Polaris has three large solar arrays to capture the light of the sun low on the horizon. On average, they are capable of generating about 250 watts of electricity.

The device weighs 150 kg and can accommodate drilling equipment and other payloads weighing up to 70 kg. The speed of its movement on two-foot wheels will be about 1 foot per second. The robot itself is made from aerospace-grade lightweight composite structural materials.

Scientists expect Polaris to drill 10 to 100 holes during the time it searches for ice. He will have about 10 days at his disposal, given that the lunar day lasts 14 days. However, if the robot proves capable of surviving the long, cold moonlit night, the search mission will be extended indefinitely.

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