SBIR-STTR Award

The GRAIL and LADEE missions demonstrated the inherent value of skimming low over the lunar surface, yet they only probed below 10 km very briefly during periapse passages. Advanced Space proposes developing the means for flying spacecraft in an orbit that remains below 10 km altitude for weeks or months, opening the door to breakthrough scientific investigations. The proposed work will study an innovative system that may be used to achieve Sustained Low-Altitude Lunar Orbital Missions (SLALOM), enabled through autonomous onboard GNC capabilities and the use of Flash LIDAR. The proposed study explores the dynamics of SLALOM, performs navigation analyses, evaluates maneuver planning methodologies, and researches how unique innovations in spacecraft autonomy can transfer operations from the ground to the spacecraft. Skimming the lunar surface autonomously with a spacecraft that remains below an altitude of 10 km is a challenging proposition that requires an entirely new approach to spacecraft navigation, maneuver design and execution, and spacecraft autonomy. SLALOM, with the requisite breakthrough improvements in guidance, navigation, and control technology, allows new scientific investigations such as the direct sensing and/or capture of lunar particles naturally lofted by the complicated dynamics of the lunar exosphere. The benefits of the proposed innovation in spacecraft autonomy extend naturally to other airless bodies where sustained low-altitude orbits are mission enabling. These include, among others, the scientific and commercial exploration of asteroids and the Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos. While these applications are compelling, Advanced Space identifies the Moon as an ideal proving ground for this technology for many reasons, not least of which is to take advantage of the wealth of geodetic reference data generated by previous missions and the desire for low-altitude, high value scientific investigations identified by the lunar science community. Potential NASA Applications SLALOM makes possible the direct sensing or sampling of lunar regolith that has been lofted from the surface via interaction with solar UV radiation. In this way, a large number of sites of interest may be directly sampled using the same spacecraft: a capability far exceeding the reach of a rover or lander. Further, such low-altitude orbits allow remote-sensing measurements of unparalleled resolution, both at the Moon and other airless bodies such as asteroids and other natural satellites. Potential Non-NASA Applications Commercial interest in the exploration of airless bodies has grown significantly in the past decade, particularly as a means of identifying and extracting valuable space resources. The ability to operate autonomously at very low altitudes is enabling not only in the accuracy of measurements that can be collected, but also in the ability to operate a fleet of exploration space vehicles economically with a streamlined ground support footprint with minimal human interaction required.

Absent an atmosphere, the limit for a minimum-orbit altitude (< 50 km) at the Moon, or other airless body, is currently bounded by the technological limitations of the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) subsystem. Breakthrough improvements in this subsystem will enable new scientific investigations, such as (1) low altitude, direct sampling of the lunar particles naturally lofted by the complex dynamics of the Lunar exosphere, (2) close proximity examinations of the Lunar magnetic “swirls”, (3) deploying low energy sensors (such as the instrument on Lunar Prospector) to map and quantify water ice deposits, and many others. To access this challenging orbital regime and fly Sustained Low Altitude Lunar Orbital Missions (SLALOMs), Advanced Space is proposing the integrated Auto-maneuver Location Processor using Integrated Navigation Estimates (ALPINE) system, that leverages previous investments by NASA and industry to operate autonomously in this highly demanding and rewarding environment. SLALOM combines spacecraft instruments, particularly Flash LIDAR, that generate high accuracy, real-time in-situ navigation measurements, with the automated ALPINE flight software system needed to process that data with minimal latency. The result is a spacecraft equipped with the navigation knowledge and maneuver design capability needed to maintain extremely low altitude Lunar orbits with limited command and control from Earth. Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) The spacecraft autonomy capabilities made possible through ALPINE will enable new scientific investigations, such as (1) low-altitude, direct sampling of the lunar exosphere, (2) close proximity examinations of the lunar magnetic “swirls”, (3) deploying sensors to map and quantify water ice deposits, and many others. NASA would also be the prime beneficiary of the capabilities as they apply to the exploration of other airless bodies in the solar system including moons at Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Non-NASA applications for ALPINE include support for commercial lunar operations and resource prospecting. Lander systems will benefit from the deployment of sustained low-altitude missions through enhanced landing accuracy and autonomy benefits to their missions.