Lava tubes on the moon are some of the most interesting and difficult places in the solar system. But if humanity plans to have a permanent presence on the moon at some point, the more knowledge we have about the cave systems that are created by these lava tubes, the better.
This is why ESA’s current focus on lunar cave exploration is so important, and another good reason to take note as it releases more information on some of the technologies leading this advance. An update was recently published on a project called DAEDALUS, which is led by the Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg (JMU) and offers interesting new insights into the spherical autonomous robot.
DAEDALUS stands in an inspired space name for the descent and the exploration of the deep autonomy of underground lunar structures. Simply put, the mission is to descend into a moon cave and then roll around in it.
Prototype of the DAEDALUS system that is being tested at the University of Würzburg.
Photo credit: University of Würzburg
Current mission plans have two main steps. First, the ball is lowered into a lava tube on the moon’s surface using a crane. During the descent, the sphere uses its instruments to identify and avoid obstacles that could hinder its progress. As soon as it reaches the bottom of the skylight of the lava tube, the sphere releases from the tether and begins an autonomous scouting mission of as much cave as it can manage.
The cable itself remains stationary at the delivery point and acts as a WiFi repeater for the data from the autonomous sphere, which leads it back to a control center. In the meantime, the sphere will use its abundance of on-board equipment to better understand the environment inside the caves.
UT video of lava tubes with a special focus on the moon.
This equipment includes a variety of active and passive modules. Temperature sensors and a dosimeter monitor temperature and radiation values. A stereoscopic camera and a LIDAR system help to image the interior of the cave. An extendable robotic arm serves two purposes: first, to clear obstacles out of the way, but also to examine particularly interesting stones or materials that the ball finds.
With a diameter of only 46 cm, the sphere itself is not particularly large, which is an advantage when launching into space. However, before it can be started, there are still many more attempts waiting for him. The consortium led by JMU is taking part in a call for the Open Space Innovation Platform that we reported on a few weeks ago.
Graphic representation of the DAEDALUS system.
Photo credit: University of Würzburg
The DAEDALUS concept is currently being reviewed along with other lava tube exploration missions. While it is not clear which of these missions will kick off the next stage of development, the fact that ESA is investing time and effort into seriously investigating an ambitious project like DAEDALUS suggests potentially big things in the future of the program.
Learn more:
ESA – Lunar Cave Explorer
JMU – DAEDALUS – Descent and exploration in the deep autonomy of subterranean lava structures
New Atlas – Spherical cave explorer robot to roll around in lunar caves
Mission statement:
The DAEDALUS sphere is shown descending in a moon lava tube.
Photo credit: Julius Maximilians University
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