• LunarLeaper

    A robotic mission concept designed to access and explore lunar lava tubes

  • Our Objectives

    LunarLeaper is a robotic mission concept designed to access and explore lunar lava tubes, using agile legged mobility to overcome hazardous terrain and enable in-depth investigation of these subsurface environments.
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    Investigate subsurface lava tubes

    Confirm the existence and assess the extent of subsurface voids.

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    Assess the suitability of lava tubes for human exploration and habitation

    Determine why collapse occurred and whether further collapse is likely. Assess availability of in-situ resources (ISRs). Determine the accessibility of the pit edge with potential future large robotic systems.

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    Assess geological processes, with a focus on the volcanic evolution of the Moon

    Study key aspects of lunar volcanism exposed along the pit wall. Determine the number of flows, their volume, nature and their timescales. Paleoregolith layers might be present and could hold traces from the early Sun and Earth’s atmosphere. Connect local to more regional observations.

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    Investigate the local and regional extent of the regolith

    Determine lateral and vertical extent of regolith. Assess properties of lunar regolith, including its composition, structure, and mechanical behavior, directly linked to mission design, landing safety, mobility, and the feasibility of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for future lunar exploration.

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    Operate a legged robot on the Moon

    Employing and operating the first legged robot on an extraterrestrial surface, demonstrating new technological opportunities on the Moon and beyond.

  • Concept

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    Mobility

    LunarLeaper is based on the SpaceHopper design, the result of 4 years of iteration at ETH's Robotic Systems Lab (RSL). The robot weighs <15 kg.

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    Landing site

    We want to explore the Marius Hills pit on the near side of the moon, a pit that is thought to be connected to a subsurface hollow lava tube.

    Our plan is to land outside the hypothesized extent of the lava tube and traverse it twice, while taking some time at the pit itself.

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    Instruments

    We combine geophysical measurements from the surface with imaging from the pit rim. The geophysical instruments are a gravimeter (GRAV) and a ground penetrating radar (GPR). For the imaging we use our dedicated science camera (SCAM) and hopefully a spectrometer (SPEC). The legs of the rover can be used to to dig in the lunar soil to estimate mechanical properties.

  • Articles

    Click on the images below to read more

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  • Team

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    Dr. Anna Mittelholz

    Principal Investigator

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    Dr. Simon Stähler

    Deputy Principal Investigator

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    Dr. Hendrik Kolvenbach

    Lead Robotics

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    Michael Gschweitl

    Space System Engineer

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    Aurélie Cocheril

    Space Systems Engineer

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    Dr. Valentin Bickel

    Lead Geology

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    Joe Church

    Lead Engineering

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    Dr. Ozgur Karatekin

    Lead Gravimetry

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    Dr. Svein-Erik Hamran

    Lead Ground-Penetrating-Radar

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    Matthias Grott

    Lead Infrared Spectrometer

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    Elena Krasnova

    Thermal / Robotics Hardware Engineer

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    Adrian Fuhrer

    Space Robotics Engineer

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    Philip Arm

    Robot Control Engineer

  • Mentors

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    Prof. Domenico

    Giardini

    Co-PI of the NASA InSight mission

    Co-PI of the ESA LISA mission

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    Prof. Thomas

    Zurbuchen

    Former Associate Administrator of the NASA Science Mission Directorate

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    Prof. Marco

    Hutter

    Expert in legged robotic systems

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    Prof. Miguel

    Olivares-Mendez

    Director of the Space Science Master in Luxembourg, expertise in robotic systems

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    Prof. Nicolas

    Thomas

    Developed optical instruments for multiple ESA missions (Mars Express, TGO, BepiColombo)

  • " LunarLeaper leverages Switzerland’s unique technological strengths to tackle fundamental questions about the Moon’s volcanic history and its potential as a future habitat. By exploring underground lava tubes, this mission opens new frontiers of exploration of our celestial neighbor."

    Prof. Thomas Zurbuchen, Former Associate Administrator of the NASA Science Mission Directorate

    "With Lunar Leaper, we unlock new realms of space exploration through the agile mobility of legged robots."

    Prof Marco Hutter, Expert in legged robotic systems

  • Contact Person

    Dr. Anna Mittelholz - anna.mittelholz@eaps.ethz.ch

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