NASA’s Moon Rover Prototype Masters Challenging Lander Exit Test

NASA’s VIPER, also known as Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, recently completed a series of successful tests to determine its ability to drive off the Astrobotic Griffin lunar lander and onto the lunar surface. This operation, called egress, is crucial for VIPER’s 100-day mission. It becomes even more challenging when the moon’s terrain is uneven or steep.

Recent tests at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley involved prototypes of the VIPER rover and Griffin lander. Their purpose was to push the limits of VIPER’s systems and ensure that it performs as expected during its scientific mission. Engineers conducted a series of tests where VIPER’s prototype MGRU3 (moon Gravitation Representative Unit 3) descended the lander’s ramps in different configurations. This allowed them to understand how the rover would operate in various scenarios, both normal and unusual.

Unlike typical vehicle transport, where cars are rolled off standardized ramps on trailers, the lunar lander’s ramp geometry can vary significantly depending on the surface at its destination. This means that the ramps could be extremely steep or uneven, requiring the VIPER team to actively compensate for the challenging terrain.

“Through this series, we’ve tested all possible scenarios for VIPER’s egress on the moon,” said Jasper Wolfe, VIPER egress test lead at Ames. “We assessed the worst-case scenarios involving high pitch, extreme roll, and combined pitch and roll scenarios.”

The photo above captures a crucial moment during the tests, focusing on the physical interface between the rover and the lander. The tests included software modifications specific to VIPER’s egress and physical adjustments to both the rover and the lander’s ramps. The team ensured that MGRU3 had enough clearance and correctly engaged the ramps during the entire descent.

“We validated these test cases with MGRU3 to confirm that VIPER can handle them on the moon,” said Wolfe.

Completing these tests signifies VIPER’s ability to successfully exit the lander, even in challenging landing spots. This milestone brings us a step closer to the rover’s flight.

“With VIPER, we are achieving significant milestones and exploring new frontiers,” said Wolfe. “It’s an exciting journey.”