Challenges of operating a drilling instrument on a small rover at the lunar poles - LVS-PIE phase A study results

The “LVS-PIE Phase A″ project successfully investigated the feasibility of using the Lunar Volatiles Scout instrument on the ispace Polar Ice Explorer rover to search for possible cold-trapped water ice deposits at the lunar poles. The suitability of the two systems for a joint mission was studied based on identified conflicts between both initial systems, such as the envelope for integration or the power budget. The interfaces were made compatible, mechanical structure and mechanisms were updated to enable system integration and thermal simulations were performed to refine the thermal design for safe operation within the thermal limits under lunar conditions. Thermal extraction simulations for the instrument constrained the power requirement during the instrument's heating phase. Real drilling down forces and reaction torques were determined with representative experiments for both rover and instrument revealing stable conditions during the envisioned drilling process. In the developed mission scenario, operational feasibility of the LVS-PIE mission concept was demonstrated using a notional traverse, remote sensing data and investigation of technical budgets. The mission can reach sites of high scientific interest at the lunar poles and perform relevant measurements with the instrument. A joined mission consisting of an instrument package for drilling and gas analysis on a rover below 20 ​kg total mass is found to be technically feasible and scientifically valuable. •Integration analysis reveals feasibility of using the Lunar Volatiles Scout instrument on the Polar Ice Explorer rover.•Experimental drilling force and reaction torque investigation showed drilling is possible under off-loaded lunar conditions.•Science Case for an exemplary mission utilizing a notional traverse and a holistic rover/instrument consideration.