Astrobotic reveals lunar surface proving ground for payload testing

Astrobotic reveals lunar surface proving ground for payload testing
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 26, 2024

Astrobotic has unveiled its Lunar Surface Proving Ground (LSPG) at its Mojave, CA facility. The 100mx100m high-fidelity 3D test field replicates the Moon's surface topography and optical properties.

The LSPG's terrain is based on a map of the Moon's South Pole, scanned by Astrobotic's LunaRay system. This site will support various test campaigns, including precise lunar landing technologies like LiDAR scanners and navigation algorithms, as well as lunar rovers and robotic systems.

Besides providing a realistic lunar topography for spacecraft and rover sensors, the test field can simulate the extreme lighting conditions at the lunar poles.

"Our Lunar Surface Proving Ground stands out as the most realistic test field of this scale, modeled directly from a lunar surface map, anywhere in the world," said Sean Bedford, Director of Business Development at Astrobotic. "We're excited to simulate the lunar landscape for high-fidelity testing here on Earth as industry, government, and academia develop Moon to Mars capabilities."

The LSPG debuted as the test site for several winning teams of NASA's 2023-2024 TechRise Student Challenge, managed by NASA's Flight Opportunities program and administered by Future Engineers.

Thirty winning teams of 6-12th grade students from across the U.S. will fly their experiments aboard Xodiac, Astrobotic's vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL) reusable rocket, over the LSPG as the culmination of their work this school year.

The student teams' experiments include terrain mapping, lunar crater detection using LiDAR and AI image processing, water detection, and thermal mapping using infrared cameras. The first 15 student payloads successfully flew over the LSPG aboard Xodiac on June 21.

The TechRise Student Challenge flights are the LSPG's first major campaign. The site will also host this year's NASA TechLeap Prize's Nighttime Precision Landing Challenge. Draper, San Diego State University, and Astrobotic have additional test activities planned on Xodiac in the coming months.

"Allowing students, the next generation of engineers and rocket scientists, to be the first customers to use the LSPG is exciting for our team," said Bedford, "It's our mission to make space accessible to the world and this one-of-a-kind test field is another big step in making that goal a reality."