An Australian rover for use on the Moon is one step closer to reality after the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium received a funding boost from the federal government’s Moon to Mars Initiative Demonstrator Feasibility grants, administered through the Australian Space Agency.
AROSE will use the funding to develop a pilot concept for a remotely operated Construction Rover that could be used by NASA as part of its Artemis Mission to return to the Moon by 2024 and establish a sustained and safe presence there.
Project Lead, Sarah Cannard, from AROSE member organisation Nova Systems, described how the rover will contribute to Artemis saying:
“Much like building a house, someone needs to do the groundwork and prepare the foundation first. This will be the type of basic, but essential foundational service the Construction Rover will provide to establish landing and instrumentation sites on the lunar surface and support lunar infrastructure activities.”
“The Construction Rover will also support modest digging requirements to collect and deliver regolith (loose rocks from the lunar surface) and other in-situ resources, as well as to support certain types of science tasks.”
AROSE CEO, Leanne Cunnold, noted how AROSE is perfectly placed to tackle such a significant undertaking, saying:
“This project goes to the heart of why AROSE was founded and so strongly supported in its establishment by our members and the WA government.”
“Taking these steps toward an Australian Construction Rover will help further the AROSE mission to build national capability and cement Australia’s role in the international Space sector.”
“We want Australia to have a pivotal role in the Space sector supply chain to generate industry development and job creation, and to inspire what will be The Artemis Generation.”
AROSE consortium members will work on the concept and feasibility for the Construction Rover over the next 12 months, combining Australia’s world leading expertise in Remote Operations, with extensive Space heritage, research and technical experience from across the consortium.
