| CubeRover | |||||
| Mission Type: | Technology demonstrator | ||||
| Operator: | Astrobotic Lab and Carnegie Mellon University | ||||
| Spacecraft: | Iris[1] [2] | ||||
| Spacecraft Type: | Robotic lunar rover | ||||
| Spacecraft Bus: | CubeRover | ||||
| Launch Date: | 8 January 2024 07:18:36 UTC | ||||
| Launch Rocket: | Vulcan Centaur VC2S | ||||
| Launch Site: | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | ||||
| Launch Contractor: | United Launch Alliance | ||||
| Interplanetary: |
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| Instruments: | Two cameras with 1936 × 1456 resolution | ||||
| Trans Band: | Wi-Fi | ||||
CubeRover is a class of planetary rover with a standardized modular format meant to accelerate the pace of space exploration. The idea is equivalent to that of the successful CubeSat format, with standardized off-the-shelf components and architecture to assemble small units that will be all compatible, modular, and inexpensive.[3]
The rover class concept is being developed by Astrobotic Technology in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, and it is partly funded by NASA awards.[3] A Carnegie Mellon University initiative - completely independent of NASA awards - developed Iris, the first flightworthy CubeRover. It was launched on 8 January 2024 along with Peregrine Mission One.[4] Student engineers and researchers monitored and communicated with Iris rover in space via Carnegie Mellon Mission Control.[5] Surface operations phased out along with landing of Peregrine lander due to excessive propellant leak.[6] [7]
The idea is to create a practical modular concept similar that used for CubeSats and apply it to rovers, effectively creating a new standardized architecture of small modular planetary rovers with compatible parts, systems, and even instruments so that each mission can be easily tailored to its objectives.[8] [9] The rovers are expendable and do not use solar arrays for electrical power, depending solely on non-rechargeable batteries. This allows it to be lighter, have a larger cooling radiator panel for electronics, and have a simpler avionics design.[10]
The CubeRover program intends that standardizing small rover design with a common architecture will open access to planetary bodies for companies, governments, and universities around the world at a low cost, while increasing functionality, just as the CubeSat has in Earth orbit.[8] This would motivate other members of the space exploration community to develop new systems and instruments that are all compatible with the CubeRover's architecture.[8]
In May 2017 Astrobotic Technology, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, were selected by NASA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) to receive a $125,000 award[11] to develop a small lunar rover architecture capable of performing small-scale science and exploration on the Moon and other planetary surfaces. During Phase I, the team built a 2-kg rover and performed engineering studies to determine the architecture of a novel chassis, power, computing systems, software and navigation techniques.
In March 2018, the team was awarded funds to move on to Phase II,[8] and under this agreement, Astrobotic and CMU were to produce a flight-ready rover with a mass of approximately .
In future missions, CubeRovers may be designed to take advantage of lander-based systems to shelter for the cold lunar night, that lasts for 14 Earth days.[8] Similarly, future larger CubeRovers may be able to incorporate thermal insulation and systems qualified for ultra-low temperatures.[8]
On August 20, 2025 Astrobotic indicated LunaGrid-Lite, a planned lunar power demonstration mission, would be conducted using a CubeRover.[12] They intend to be ready for flight in 2026.
