Research/ ISRU & CONSTRUCTION
Resource Prospector: Evaluating the ISRU Potential of the Lunar Poles
A. Colaprete, R. Elphic, D. Andrews, J. Trimble, B. Bluethmann, J. Quinn, G. Chavers
HRI & TeleoperationNTRS subject: Man/System Technology and Life Support
NTRSLunar and Planetary Science and Exploration · Man/System Technology and Life Support
Resource Prospector (RP) is a lunar volatiles prospecting mission being developed for potential flight in CY2021-2022. The mission includes a rover-borne payload that (1) can locate surface and near-subsurface volatiles, (2) excavate and analyze samples of the volatile-bearing regolith, and (3) demonstrate the form, extractability and usefulness of the materials. The primary mission goal for RP is to evaluate the In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) potential of the lunar poles.