{"id":72991,"date":"2020-12-22T16:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T20:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-467212"},"modified":"2023-10-11T10:38:31","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T14:38:31","slug":"commercial-cuberover-test-shows-how-nasa-investments-mature-space-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/commercial-cuberover-test-shows-how-nasa-investments-mature-space-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Commercial CubeRover Test Shows How NASA Investments Mature Space Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Astrobotic CubeRover traverses the terrain in the regolith bin on Dec. 10, 2020, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Astrobotic CubeRover traverses the terrain in the Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations Laboratory regolith bin at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 10, 2020. The regolith bin simulates the mechanical properties of the Moon\u2019s surface. NASA and Astrobotic employees put the CubeRover through a series of more than 150 mobility tests over several days to evaluate and improve wheel design. <strong>Credits: NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>By Linda Herridge<br>\nNASA\u2019s John F. Kennedy Space Center<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A.J. Nick with Kennedy's Exploration Research and Technology programs, checks the CubeRover in the regolith bin on Dec. 10, 2020\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_regolith_bin.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A.J. Nick, with Kennedy Space Center\u2019s Exploration Research and Technology programs, checks the Astrobotic CubeRover during its test run in the regolith bin at Kennedy on Dec. 10, 2020. <strong>Credits: NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Researchers at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida recently put a new, small robotic rover through its paces inside a 120-ton bin of regolith rock and dust that simulates the lunar surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The four-wheeled CubeRover rolled over dunes of abrasive dust, turned in place, and then trundled up and down steep trench walls within the Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations (GMRO) laboratory as it performed more than 150 mobility tests. The rover\u2019s creators, from Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, worked alongside Kennedy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sp-2017-01-008-ksc_ub_swamp_works_flyer_508.pdf?emrc=b43f6c\">Swamp Works<\/a> team, assessing the robot\u2019s maneuverability and how its sensor, motor, and power systems operated in the dusty environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is spurring commercial development of these shoebox-sized rovers much like it has with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/heo\/home\/CubeSats_initiative\" rel=\"noopener\">CubeSats<\/a>, whose small, standard size allow researchers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-mission-supports-launch-of-cubesats-built-by-middle-and-high-school-students\/\" rel=\"noopener\">students<\/a>  to build and launch low-cost satellites on NASA missions. Like the small satellites, the rovers\u2019 standardized design creates opportunities to conduct a wide range of missions that will expand science, exploration, and commercial activity on the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCubeRovers are light \u2013 in the 9-pound range \u2013 and have relatively low deployment and development costs. This dramatically reduces flight cost, making CubeRovers excellent platforms for technology demonstration missions,\u201d said Mike Provenzano, Astrobotic\u2019s director of planetary mobility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Astrobotic\u2019s miniature rover began as a concept more than a decade ago with funding from NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/sbir.nasa.gov\/content\/nasa-sbirsttr-basics\" rel=\"noopener\">Small Business Innovation Research<\/a>\/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR\/STTR) program. The program funds research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill agency needs and have a high potential for successful commercialization.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"The Astrobotic CubeRover, left, and NASA's RASSOR digging platform are shown in the regolith bin at Kennedy Space Center.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_with_rassor.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Astrobotic CubeRover traverses the terrain in the Granular Mechanics and Regolith Operations Laboratory regolith bin on Dec. 10, 2020. Also in the bin is NASA\u2019s Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR), a robotic platform designed to dig on the Moon. The regolith bin simulates the Moon\u2019s surface. <strong>Credits: NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Commercial development of small rovers allows engineers, entrepreneurs, and scientists to test novel, exciting, and high-risk concepts on Earth and then on the Moon. CubeRovers will be the first to demonstrate several capabilities, such as recharging from a centralized power source in a regolith environment, repairing surface assets, and establishing a local communication infrastructure network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to provide logistics support for the current testing of the Astrobotic CubeRover,\u201d said Jim Mantovani, a principal investigator in the GMRO lab and the person leading the CubeRover project at Kennedy. \u201cIt\u2019s always great to see NASA and small business collaborate to help mature technology, and I am looking forward to seeing commercial rovers working on the Moon.\u201d<br>\nFocusing on a variety of technology areas, NASA\u2019s SBIR\/STTR program invites startups and small businesses to propose technology solutions. The competitive award process stimulates research, development, and innovation through multiple phases.<br>\n\u201cNASA relies on a diverse set of partners and sources, each meant to complement one another,\u201d said Michael Vinje, the small business technology manager in the Exploration Research and Technology Office at Kennedy. \u201cSome work is performed exclusively with university labs, while other work is performed with corporate industry partners.\u201d<br>\nTo mature more advanced technologies, NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-small-business-tipping-point-contracts-advance-small-moon-rover\" rel=\"noopener\">Tipping Point<\/a> awards, which combine NASA resources with industry contributions, saving taxpayer dollars. In September 2019, the agency awarded Astrobotic a Tipping Point award to ready its CubeRover for lunar exploration. Astrobotic will use what it learns from this testing to improve its wheel design and, after additional testing, the company plans to have a flight qualified CubeRover ready in 2022.<br>\nAs part of the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemisprogram\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis<\/a> program, NASA will regularly send dozens of science experiments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface starting in 2021 as well as land astronauts on the Moon beginning in 2024 and about once per year thereafter. NASA contracted with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/new-companies-join-growing-ranks-of-nasa-partners-for-artemis-program\" rel=\"noopener\">14 companies<\/a> to bid on robotic deliveries for the agency through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/clps\" rel=\"noopener\">CLPS<\/a>) initiative. In addition to NASA payloads, these deliveries will send commercial and academic payloads, including small rovers on these missions to the Moon.<br>\nWhile CLPS provider missions will start with small rovers and other payloads, over time the missions will send larger payloads, such as the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), scheduled to explore the Moon\u2019s South Pole in late 2023. The water-seeking mobile robot, to be delivered by Astrobotic, will bring NASA one step closer to developing a sustainable, long-term presence on the Moon as the agency looks to Mars and beyond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Linda Herridge NASA\u2019s John F. Kennedy Space Center Researchers at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida recently put a new, small robotic rover through its paces inside a 120-ton bin of regolith rock and dust that simulates the lunar surface. The four-wheeled CubeRover rolled over dunes of abrasive dust, turned in place, and then [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":76377,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[10574,2862,13004,2841],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10285,3917],"coauthors":[8392],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Commercial CubeRover Test Shows How NASA Investments Mature Space Tech","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/commercial-cuberover-test-shows-how-nasa-investments-mature-space-tech\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/commercial-cuberover-test-shows-how-nasa-investments-mature-space-tech\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Linda Herridge"}],"creator":["Linda Herridge"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Science & Research","Technology Research","Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)","Kennedy Space Center","Research and Technology at Kennedy Space Center"],"dateCreated":"2020-12-22T20:37:00Z","datePublished":"2020-12-22T20:37:00Z","dateModified":"2023-10-11T14:38:31Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Commercial CubeRover Test Shows How NASA Investments Mature Space Tech\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/commercial-cuberover-test-shows-how-nasa-investments-mature-space-tech\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2020-12-22T20:37:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Science & Research,Technology Research,Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS),Kennedy Space Center,Research and Technology at Kennedy Space Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Linda Herridge\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"3 years","featured_image":{"id":76377,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/cuberover_test.jpg","title":"cuberover_test","alt":"The Astrobotic CubeRover traverses the terrain in the regolith bin on Dec. 10, 2020, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72991"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72991"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":548152,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72991\/revisions\/548152"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72991"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=72991"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=72991"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=72991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}