Astrolab publishes payload guide; ARES tested

Astrolab published a Payload Interface Guide. The FLEX rover was developed for in-situ resource utilization operations. The ARES payload was tested at Astrolab headquarters in Hawthorne.

The FLEX rover was developed for in-situ resource utilization operations. Its stated functions are transporting, powering and deploying in-situ resource utilization systems.

Astrolab's partnerships cover multiple small- to large-scale landers and architectures.

The UCSB team consisted of seven people and was led by Abed Musaffar.

The ARES payload uses three sub-drums whose excavation tips are spread radially. It has a lunar regolith storage capacity of over 200 kg and an excavation rate of over 1800 kg/hr.

The majority of ARES manufacturing was done in the UCSB machine shop. Karl Buchka contributed to the design of the ARES control system, and ARES was tested at Astrolab headquarters in Hawthorne.

A FLEX test result showed the system exceeded target specifications. FLEX could carry out part of the deployment and running of in-situ resource utilization operations on Mars.

Astrolab published the Payload Interface Guide. The ARES project was awarded the Most Innovative Design in Mechanical Engineering Award. Its announcement date is listed as the 2021-2022 school year, and Andrew Welter presented ARES work at the Space Resources conference.

For readers tracking the lunar industry, the facts describe a published payload interface guide and a rover whose stated role is to transport, power and deploy in-situ resource utilization systems.

The partnership with multiple small- to large-scale landers and architectures places FLEX alongside different lander approaches. ARES adds excavation and storage figures, and a FLEX test exceeded target specifications.