This technology is a lunar surface service hub to maintain and protect small surface rovers, instrumentation, and other lunar surface vehicles. Based on a Mobile Inflatable Robotic Autonomous Containment for Lunar Exploration (MIRACLE) concept, these lunar service hubs store lunar exploration technologies, recharge batteries, and protect rovers and instrumentation from the cold during lunar nights. They are thermally insulated, protecting rovers from the lunar night and eliminating the need for on-rover heat conservation systems. They reduce dust exposure and are equipped with tools to clean dust off vital instruments. They are also equipped with recharging stations, damage inspection equipment, and data backup stations, which reduces the amount of energy and data that needs to be stored on the rover itself. Background: On the moon, nighttime temperatures can drop below -150 degrees Celsius for 14 Earth days. Developing technologies to withstand those harsh conditions is one of the biggest challenges faced when developing technologies for lunar exploration. With NASA’s Artemis program underway aiming to return humans to the moon, technologies to enable lunar exploration are relevant and crucial. MIRACLE serves as a home base for lunar rovers, eliminating the need for complex systems to protect from the cold and reducing the power and data storage needs of rovers. Each hub is an inflatable structure held down by smart sandbags containing crucial sensors and electronics. Applications:
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