Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

Astrobotic to conduct NASA JPL studies for Mars missions

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 21, 2024

Astrobotic has been selected by NASA’s Mars Exploration Program for two studies of commercial services aimed at supporting cost-effective, frequent missions to Mars. The studies will explore commercial payload delivery and surface imaging services to enable future scientific missions to the Red Planet.

The two studies will focus on large payload delivery and hosting services, and Mars surface-imaging services. These studies will analyze how Astrobotic can adapt its current spacecraft systems for frequent, cost-effective missions to Mars over the next 20 years.

Astrobotic is partnering with Arizona State University for the large payload delivery and hosting services study, which will adapt the company’s Griffin-class lunar lander to deliver payloads to Mars from orbit. The Mars surface-imaging services study, a collaboration between Astrobotic, Arizona State University, and Malin Space Science Systems, will focus on electro-optical imaging instruments for mapping the Martian surface.

“Astrobotic’s mission has always been to make space accessible to the world, so these studies toward Mars are a natural next step for us,” said John Thornton, Astrobotic’s CEO. “We will investigate modifying our current lunar capabilities for use around Mars and examine how our systems can further support NASA’s Moon to Mars Strategy.”

“Arizona State University faculty, staff, and students are excited to leverage our significant scientific, engineering, and operational experience in NASA robotic Mars missions to brainstorm with the Astrobotic and Malin Space Science Systems teams on this new next-gen commercial imaging services study,” said Jim Bell, Professor in ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration, Director of ASU’s NewSpace Initiative, and the leader or deputy leader on camera teams for NASA’s Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance Mars rovers. “Innovative, lower-cost, but still scientifically robust cameras and other instruments have the potential to substantially advance the pace of exploration and discovery on the Red Planet.”