Unique test field helps team ready sensors for use on lunar surface
Pittsburgh, PA – October 2, 2024 – When faced with a challenge to test equipment designed for use in space here on Earth, Astrobotic’s team devised a creative solution by testing the company’s Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system at Armstrong Trails in western Pennsylvania. LiDAR, which uses a pulsed laser to measure distances, is a key component used in robotic spacecraft to map the lunar surface in real-time, successfully land, and conduct surface operations.
Astrobotic partnered with Armstrong Trails, a 52.5-mile recreation trail which runs through Armstrong, Westmoreland, and Clarion counties, to continue testing the LiDAR system’s functionality over distances that would be unachievable in a lab. The trail’s topography afforded Astrobotic’s team of engineers the ability to test the LiDAR using targets placed up to a mile away.
“Our team was fortunate to have a resource like Armstrong Trails so close to our headquarters that allowed us to ground test our LiDAR system,” said Brett Shaffer, Lead Systems Engineer at Astrobotic, “Because we were able to generate test data in real time, technicians had the unique experience of being able to actually look up from their computers at the topography in front of them to see how well the system was performing.”
“Armstrong Trails is a beautiful recreational resource that brings people closer to nature while fostering a love for outdoor adventure,” said Chris Ziegler, Executive Director at Armstrong Trails, “We’re excited to partner with a company like Astrobotic to use the trail in an innovative way that supports our country’s lunar ambitions, blending local recreation with national achievements in space exploration.”
Astrobotic’s LiDAR system will continue additional testing later this year utilizing the company’s Lunar Surface Proving Ground (LSPG) in Mojave, CA. The first test will place LiDAR on a helicopter which will hover over the approximately 100mx100m high-fidelity 3D test field. The LiDAR system will also be tested at the LSPG, which mimics the topography and optical properties of the Moon’s surface, using Xodiac, Astrobotic’s vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL) reusable rocket.
