Outline case for a payload and mission scenario to perform in situ de-risking, validation and calibration of lunar granular materials handling

Abstract

Granular materials handling will be one of the important processes for success of future lunar ISRU and related efforts. Although well matured for terrestrial applications, it is still uncertain how locally sourced lunar materials will behave while being handled in lunar environment conditions, especially the lunar exosphere and reduced gravity. Various experimental and numerical methods enable replication and simulation of these unique lunar environmental and material conditions on the Earth. However, there is concern about the validity of these results having not been validated and calibrated in lunar environment conditions with real lunar materials. The current work outlines a case for generating in situ lunar datasets of bulk material handling observations for de-risking, validation and calibration of lunar materials handling knowledge and associated Earth-based simulations. Proposed is a future lunar payload, incorporating a set of eight material handling sub-systems, to generate suitable datasets with both, local and Earth originated, material samples in the lunar environment. Also outlined is a mission design to deliver the payload to the lunar surface and operational plan focusing on use over multiple lunar days. The intention for this paper is to generate further discussion and debate among the community as to the validity of the arguments outlined and the value of, and approach to be taken, for implementing a payload concept to provide in situ validation.