Defining a Mission Architecture and Technologies for Lunar Lava Tube Reconnaissance

Abstract

The idea of utilizing lunar lava tubes for habitation is not new. Most of the scientific and popular literature on the subject focuses on benefits of their extremely favorable environmental conditions, the savings of energy and mass in construction, and concepts for habitable structures and enabling habitation technologies if a base were to be located inside a lava tube. However, prior to any construction or emplacement of infrastructure, reconnaissance and site characterization must occur. Defining a mission planning architecture for exploration missions of robotic and/or human first contact with recently discovered entrances to potential lunar lava tubes is discussed. The paper presents a framework for developing reference mission architectures in order to assess candidate technology elements of reconnaissance missions to a lunar lava tube. The overall goal is to get some understanding of first robotic and human contact with a lunar lava tube for developing associated technologies needed to support these activities, including techniques of entering and examining them robotically and by astronauts. We investigate operational scenarios, technologies, and human and robotic performance feats associated with the first missions of planetary cave exploration.