Product/Service - Surveyorbot
- Classification
- Surface Habitats & Structures
- Category
- Space Construction Company
Landing Pads
Commercial Rover
- Fields
- Moon
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- Not announced
- Astroport and its research partner, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), will develop geotechnical engineering processes for "Lunar Surface Site Preparation for Landing/Launch Pad and Blast Shield Construction" with a focus on "regolith works" for bulk regolith excavation and movement. The project will build on Astroport's previous Phase 1 STTR-21 work on regolith melting technologies and robotic bricklaying system for lunar infrastructure construction.
- The new research will describe a multi-step Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for "regolith works" executed by multiple machines operating autonomously or in remote control mode with step sequencing/timing to enable machine-to-machine collaboration. In particular, it will define conveyance techniques and sorting and filtering processes to prepare and deliver excavated regolith to Astroport's Lunatron™ bricklayer system.
- Astroport is developing patent-pending technology to melt lunar soil (regolith) to form durable lunar bricks using its LunatronTM brick-making machine. These bricks can then be used as a coating for flat surfaces such as airstrips, roads or the foundations of structures. Astroport has received separate research funding for the development of its in-furnace smelting technology, The regolithic raw material for the manufacture of bricks is acquired during the excavation and leveling phase for the preparation of the landing site.
- For this, FourPoint will use its Autonomous Transport Platform (ATP) for the transport and delivery of sorted and filtered materials that will feed the LunatronTM brickyard. FourPoint's ATP offers a complete solution for autonomous machine operation, suitable for work in specific areas, which improves the speed and efficiency of work in surface mines, as well as other extreme environments. such as the lunar surface.
- NASA awarded Astroport a Phase 1 SBIR to advance development of its unique Lunatron® furnace-nozzle for making bricks from molten lunar regolith (lunar soil). Bricks are used for the surface pavement in Astroport's LLP design.
- NASA awarded Astroport's parent company, XArc, a Phase 1 STTR contract for development of an autonomous pathfinder surveying robot (Surveyorbot) to determine geotechnical characteristics of a potential landing site. The Surveyorbot will perform precursor surveying missions prior to deployment of surface construction operations, to characterize regolith handling difficulty at a selected site, such as load bearing capability, compaction and penetration depth, as well as soil settlement due to imposed loads from heavy cargo landers.
- NASA also selected Astroport and its consortium team comprised of industry partners and academic research institutions, for a Phase 2 STTR award valued at $850,000 to refine the team's Phase 1 defined concept of operations (CONOPS) and system architecture for the LLP site preparation and construction process. A bulk regolith distribution system for hauling excavated regolith, processing at a sorting station, and sieving for feedstock production for the LLP brickmaking robots is further developed during the Phase 2 effort.
Payloads to be Launched on Upcoming SpaceX Mission to the Moon, 2023-11-21
- Five customers are releasing details of their payloads today: Argo Space, Astroport, Avalon Space, Interstellar Lab, and LifeShip. Three more customers are contracted with Astrolab but intend to release details of their payloads at a future date, closer to launch. Collectively, these eight contracts are valued at more than $160 million.
- Astroport Space Technologies of San Antonio, Texas builds infrastructure for the Moon, and intends to melt regolith to make bricks for roads, launch and landing pads, and shelters. To understand the properties of the regolith in the lunar environment, the payload will demonstrate a proof of concept for a proprietary sieving and grain separation technology that mitigates electrostatic forces inherent in the regolith. This technology will isolate the regolith grains that are ideal for manufacturing lunar bricks. FLEX’s robotic arm will collect regolith for the sieving and grain separation experiment.
- Separately, the Astroport payload also includes a limited number of personalized lunar simulant basalt bricks sold exclusively for placement on the lunar surface to mark the start of the first road on the Moon. “Our ideal customer for our personalized brick program is someone from an Artemis Accords signatory country who places an order for a brick to be made from the basalt soil of their respective country,” said Sam Ximenes, CEO, Astroport. FLEX will use its robotic arm to install these bricks to begin the construction of this initial lunar road.
Lunar
Mars
Similar Organizations
ASTRA
Surface Habitats, Space Construction Company
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Concept
In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
TESSERAE
In-Space Assembly, Space Construction Company, In-Space Manufacturing
Development, Active
SMARTER
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Robotics
Early stage
Hemiunu, DRACO
Commercial Rover, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Robotic Arm, Landing Pads
Development
VERA Station
Commercial Space Station, Space Station Module, Space Construction Company, In-Space Manufacturing
Concept
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development
Olympus, Lunar Lantern
Space Construction Company, Surface Habitats
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Early stage
Commercial Rover, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment
Concept, Development
Farview Observatory, Lunar South Pole Oxygen Pipeline
In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Energy, Space Construction Company
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Robotics
Concept, Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company
Development, Launched
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Development
Stargate, Terran-R, Terran-1
Surface Habitats, Space Construction Company, Commercial Space Station, In-Space Manufacturing, Space Data Centre
Concept, Development
In-Space Assembly, Space Construction Company, Space Robotics
Dormant
ThinkPlatform-1
Commercial Space Station, Space Construction Company, On-Orbit Servicing
Development, Launched
Luna-Crete, Constellation Vault
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Commercial Rover, Space Mining
Dormant
Hemiunu, DRACO
Commercial Rover, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Robotic Arm, Landing Pads
Development
Moon Lander XL-1, Xogdor
Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lunar Lander, Landing Pads
Acquired, Development
In-Space Manufacturing, Landing Pads, Space Mining
Development
Lunar Lantern, Lunar Landing Pad, Mars X-House V1
Space Architecture, Surface Habitats, Landing Pads
Concept
CubeRover, MoonRanger
Commercial Rover
Development
FLEX, FLIP, Mona Luna
Commercial Rover
Development
GALAGO
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Mining, Commercial Rover
Concept
Commercial Rover, Hardware
Development
CR3 Rover
Commercial Rover, Surface Habitats
Early stage
Rover, Transport Service (LEO-Moon), ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Tug, In-Space Logistics
Concept
Jaguar 1
Commercial Rover, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant
ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Commercial Rover
Cancelled, Development
SERIES-2 Lander
Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Rover, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
YAOKI
Commercial Rover
Development, Launched
Commercial Rover, Space Mining
Cancelled
Consulting Service, Commercial Rover, Space Robotics
Active
Commercial Rover
Cancelled
Commercial Rover, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), In-Space Manufacturing
Cancelled, Early stage
Autonomous Transport Platform (ATP)
Space Mining, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Commercial Rover
Cancelled, Development
Hemiunu, DRACO
Commercial Rover, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Robotic Arm, Landing Pads
Development
Lunar Vehicle
Commercial Rover
Concept
R1
Commercial Rover
Development
Commercial Rover, Space Robotics, Software, Hardware, Robotic Arm, In-Space Assembly
Development
Gura Terra Space Rover
Commercial Rover
Concept
Commercial Rover
Development
Commercial Rover
Development
Rover
Commercial Rover
Development
Commercial Rover, Commercial Lander
Concept
Commercial Rover, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment
Concept, Development
Dynetics Human Landing System
Commercial Rover
Development
Commercial Rover
Idea
Lunar Mobility Vehicle (LMV)
Commercial Rover
Concept
MAPP, HL-MAPP, Eagle
Commercial Rover, Surface Habitats, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Software & Mission Control
Development, Launched
Commercial Rover
Development
Canadaarm3, SKYMAKER
On-Orbit Servicing, Space Robotics, Commercial Rover, Resources - Energy, In-Space Assembly, In-Space Manufacturing, Robotic Arm
Development
Commercial Rover, Hardware
Concept
Space Entertainment, Commercial Rover
Dormant, ?
HiveR, CubeRover
Commercial Rover
Development
e-4ORCE
Commercial Rover
Concept
Commercial Rover
Concept
Surveyor, Excavator, Collector, Hauler, Dozer
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Commercial Rover, Space Mining
Development
M2 Lunar Rover
Commercial Rover
Development
Audi Quattro Lunar Rover
Commercial Lunar Lander, Commercial Rover
Dormant, Concept
Puli Lunar Rover
Commercial Rover, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Resources - Asteroid Mining
Development, Launched
Commercial Rover, Hardware, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Space Mining, Commercial Lander
Concept
Commercial Rover, Space Mining, Beyond-LEO Remote Sensing, Lunar Data Analytics
Cancelled, ?, Early stage
LUVMI, LUVMI-X
Commercial Rover
.jpg "Space Applications Services"){kind=logo}
Development
LREV
Raw Resources, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Resources - Oxygen, Commercial Rover
Dormant
Resources - Oxygen, Commercial Rover, Raw Resources
Dormant
LEO
Commercial Rover
Early stage
Asagumo
Commercial Rover
Development, ?
SpaceHopper
Commercial Rover
Development, ?
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization), Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation
Early stage
MPR (Mobile Power Rover)
Commercial Rover, Power Beaming, Resources - Energy
Dormant, Concept
Commercial Rover
Cancelled
Commercial Rover
Development, ?
Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV)
Commercial Rover
Concept
Commercial Rover
Concept
LUNAR CRUISER
Commercial Rover
Development
Pylon
Resources - Energy, Nuclear Fission Power, Commercial Rover, Orbital Transportation
Cancelled
Luna-Crete, Constellation Vault
In-Space Manufacturing, Space Construction Company, Space Construction Equipment, Commercial Rover, Space Mining
Dormant
Space Mining, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Commercial Rover
Early stage
Lunar Autonomously Flying Robotic Systems, HopLa
Commercial Rover, Hopper, Drone, Moon Drone
Development
Luniaq
Commercial Rover, Consulting Service
Concept