The last period included some of the most critical development activities of the projects, namely detailed design finalization and MAIT of the different LUVMI-X elements.
All the project’s objectives were addressed over the period.
Over the spring, the detailed design of the LUVMI-X instruments and rover was consolidated, translating in detailed design deliverables release, for each core WP activity.
Several of the instruments got their MAIT efforts initiated earlier, and had parts already manufactured / procured in the course of the spring. The most significant effort however was carried out over the late spring and summer period, aiming at obtaining manufactured hardware and software (where relevant) components in early September.
Although expected to be completed by mid-September, the assembly and integration of the rover was completed only in late October.
LUVMI-X scientific instruments – VAVS++, VCAS, LIBS, LCNS and Imagers (SurfCam++, NavCam+ HazCam++, 360Cam) were developed and tested in lab conditions, and mock versions of these instruments (or actual ones when possible– e.g. imagers) were integrated onboard the rover platform in the last 2 weeks of October.
The outdoor analogue field campaign was eventually performed at the Quenast quarry, in Belgium. The rover, equipped with LUVMI-X mock instruments, was operated in a sandy analogue location, with a focus on mobility as well as testing deployable payloads capabilities.
Covid measures kept impacting the work organization until summer period – no physical consortium meetings was made possible. Still, several colocations however took place at SpaceApps in the course of September/October, to allow for integration of partners’ payloads.
In conclusion the results obtained over the course of the project are substantial and hopefully impactful – several LUVMI-X scientific instruments have a chance to find their way to actual lunar missions, and the rover platform concept will serve in different business prospects (lunar destination and terrestrial), as well as being promoted as candidate platform in EL3.
