Mechanical Subsystem Design and Space Qualification of a Dual-Sensor Multispectral Imager for Lunar Rover Applications
Abstract
As part of the human return to the Moon, there is great scientific interest in exploration of the lunar south pole. A novel dual-sensor multispectral imager has been developed at the University of Western Ontario that can capture images of geological targets in multiple wavelengths, permitting spectral interpretation. This instrument would be mounted to the mast of a future Canadian lunar rover. A proof-of-concept prototype was previously tested.
In this work, the next-generation compact design was developed to withstand the conditions of spaceflight. The design is shown through simulation to survive the launch vibration environment and thermomechanical deformation during the lunar night. To predict the expected temperatures, a lunar regolith thermal model was developed and validated for accuracy at the lunar poles, leveraging newer data from the LRO mission. Finally, a coregistration pipeline for the multispectral data from the instrument was developed and validated for combining data from non-identical sensors.