LunarLeaper – Unlocking a subsurface world NASO activity: A Legged Locomotion System

• Research unit: SERI
• Project number: P2024-ETHZ LunarLeaper

Key words (English)

ETHZ LunarLeaper Anna Mittelholz SBFI SERI SEFRI ARF SSO

Short description (English)

LunarLeaper is a mission aiming to robotically explore lava caves on the Moon. Our mission is ambitious and we aim to focus on some of the most
fundamental and challenging aspects associated with the development of our legged robot with the support provided with this proposal.

Project aims (English)

NASO would fill funding gaps of the LunarLeaper mission for the next 2 years by successfully addressing key technologies. While an ESA small mission
call has led to the build-up of a mission team and active development of the initial mission concept, the ESA feedback has also shown that we need to prepare further for future opportunities, such as the announced opportunity for mini F-class missions. Thus, we are planning on a further development of the mission by building on our strengths and addressing our weaknesses. NASO will allow the development in this critical early phase, leading to a more competitive mission and ultimately support efficient progress towards a Swiss Moon landing. With NASO, we aim to focus on one of the key technologies to be developed for lunar exploration: A Legged Locomotion System.