.jpeg) Astrobotic's CubeRover | |
| Mission type | Technology demonstrator |
|---|---|
| Operator | Astrobotic Lab and Carnegie Mellon University |
| Website | www |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Iris[1][2] |
| Spacecraft type | Roboticlunar rover |
| Bus | CubeRover |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 8 January 2024 07:18:36 UTC |
| Rocket | Vulcan Centaur VC2S |
| Launch site | Cape CanaveralSLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance |
| Moon rover | |
| Landing date | 23 February 2024 (originally planned) |
| Landing site | Planned:Mons Gruithuisen Gamma |
| Transponders | |
| Band | Wi-Fi |
| Instruments | |
| Two cameras with 1936 × 1456 resolution | |
CubeRover is a class ofplanetary rover with a standardized modular format meant to accelerate the pace of space exploration. The idea is equivalent to that of the successfulCubeSat format, with standardized off-the-shelf components and architecture to assemble small units that will be all compatible, modular, and inexpensive.[3]
The rover class concept is being developed byAstrobotic Technology in partnership withCarnegie Mellon University, and it is partly funded by NASA awards.[3] A Carnegie Mellon University initiative - completely independent of NASA awards - developedIris, the first flightworthy CubeRover. It was launched on 8 January 2024 along withPeregrine Mission One.[4] Student engineers and researchers monitored and communicated with Iris rover in space via Carnegie Mellon Mission Control.[5] Surface operations phased out along with landing ofPeregrine lander due to excessive propellant leak.[6][7]
The idea is to create a practical modular concept similar that used forCubeSats and apply it to rovers, effectively creating a new standardized architecture of small modular planetary rovers with compatible parts, systems, and even instruments so that each mission can be easily tailored to its objectives.[3][8][9] The rovers are expendable and do not use solar arrays for electrical power, depending solely on non-rechargeable batteries. This allows it to be lighter, have a larger cooling radiator panel for electronics, and have a simpler avionics design.[10]
The CubeRover program intends that standardizing small rover design with a common architecture will open access to planetary bodies for companies, governments, and universities around the world at a low cost, while increasing functionality, just as the CubeSat has in Earth orbit.[8] This would motivate other members of the space exploration community to develop new systems and instruments that are all compatible with the CubeRover's architecture.[3][8]
In May 2017Astrobotic Technology, in partnership withCarnegie Mellon University, were selected by NASA'sSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to receive a $125,000 award[11] to develop a small lunar rover architecture capable of performing small-scale science and exploration on the Moon and other planetary surfaces. During Phase I, the team built a 2-kg rover and performed engineering studies to determine the architecture of a novel chassis, power, computing systems, software and navigation techniques.
In March 2018, the team was awarded funds to move on to Phase II,[3][8] and under this agreement, Astrobotic and CMU were to produce a flight-ready rover with a mass of approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb).
In future missions, CubeRovers may be designed to take advantage of lander-based systems to shelter for the cold lunar night, that lasts for 14 Earth days.[8] Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.[8]
On August 20, 2025 Astrobotic indicated LunaGrid-Lite, a planned lunar power demonstration mission, would be conducted using a CubeRover.[12] They intend to be ready for flight in 2026.