Exploring Lava Tubes to help future astronauts: We are joining CHILL-ICE!
08 April 2021 | Marnix Verkammen
With the ambition of supporting future human exploration of the Moon, the Lunar Zebro team is participating in EuroMoonMars’ simulated Moon mission, CHILL-ICE, in a lava tube in Iceland. One rover will be sent to the analogue astronaut crew, who will use it extensively to explore the tube. Besides validating the rover’s mobility on difficult terrain, the crew will gather novel data on the human-machine interface and on the considerations to take into account for future cave explorations. Covid circumstances permitting, the analogue mission is planned for the summer of 2021.
A mission in a lava tube
While the Moon and Mars are scientifically interesting locations for humans to explore, the surface of these celestial bodies is extremely hostile due to high radiations, large temperature fluctuations, and meteoroids. Lava tubes, found on Mars and the Moon, are thought to provide natural shelters, such that more simple habitats can be created inside them. Hence, to provide a realistic analogue location for future human settlements on these two celestial bodies, EuroMoonMars’ team of CHILL-ICE chose one of Iceland’s lava tubes for its analogue mission.
A unique analogue mission
While more conventional analogue missions investigate the well-being of an analogue astronaut team during missions lasting multiple months, CHILL-ICE will focus on the critical first hours after landing. During a real mission, it is in these moments that unforeseen emergencies could occur and that astronauts would face the highest risks. Hence CHILL-ICE, which stands for ‘Construction of a Habitat Inside a Lunar-analogue Lava-tube – an Iceland Campaign of EuroMoonMars’, aims to build and deploy a safe working habitat inside a lava tube within 8 hours.
A unique analogue mission
While more conventional analogue missions investigate the well-being of an analogue astronaut team during missions lasting multiple months, CHILL-ICE will focus on the critical first hours after landing. During a real mission, it is in these moments that unforeseen emergencies could occur and that astronauts would face the highest risks. Hence CHILL-ICE, which stands for ‘Construction of a Habitat Inside a Lunar-analogue Lava-tube – an Iceland Campaign of EuroMoonMars’, aims to build and deploy a safe working habitat inside a lava tube within 8 hours.
The Lunar Zebro, a tool for exploration
The Lunar Zebro’s small size, low cost, and versatility makes it an ideal tool for explorations, such as that of a lava tube. Its six-legged robust design allows it to roam over difficult terrain, with minimal chances of getting stuck. The analogue astronauts will use the Lunar Zebro for initial scouting of the interior environment of CHILL-ICE’s lava tube. This mission will thus be an opportunity to further test the rover’s locomotion and, more generally, gain a better understanding of challenges related to robotic exploration of caves that can be expected in the future.
The uncharted human-machine interface
This mission provides a unique opportunity for us to advance our understanding in the field of human-machine interaction by studying the usage of the Lunar Zebro rover by the CHILL-ICE team. The knowledge gained will help us improve the human interface of the rover, such that it could someday also serve human exploration missions.
Benedetta Cattani, Lunar Zebro’s team member who will bring the rover to Iceland and will supervise the operations, is eagerly looking forward to the start of CHILL-ICE. It is a great honour for us to participate in such an ambitious mission, and we look forward to an exciting campaign together!
COVID circumstances permitting, the mission is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021. Keep an eye on our social media for more updates!