Automated astronaut traverses with minimum metabolic workload: Accessing permanently shadowed regions near the lunar south pole ...

• Main Authors: Peña-Asensio, Eloy, Sutherland, Jennifer, Tripathi, Prateek, Mason, Kashauna, Goodwin, Arthur, Bickel, Valentin T., Kring, David A.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elseivier 2024
• Subjects: 520 Astronomy; 500 Science; 530 Physics; South pole
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.48350/194784; https://boris.unibe.ch/194784/

The Artemis exploration zone is a topographically complex impact-cratered terrain. Steep undulating slopes pose a challenge for walking extravehicular activities (EVAs) anticipated for the Artemis III and subsequent missions. Using 5 m/pixel Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) measurements of the surface, an automated Python pipeline was developed to calculate traverse paths that minimize metabolic workload. The tool combines a Monte Carlo method with a minimum-cost path algorithm that assesses cumulative slope over distances between a lander and stations, as well as between stations. To illustrate the functionality of the tool, optimized paths to permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are calculated around potential landing sites 001, nearby location 001(6), and 004, all within the Artemis III ‘Connecting Ridge’ candidate landing region. We identified 521 PSRs and computed (1) traverse paths to accessible PSRs within 2 km of the landing sites, and (2) optimized descents from host crater rims into each PSR. ...