Leto - A Robotic Reconnaissance First Contact Mission (LetoMission001)

XArc's philosophy of "Green Reconnaissance" addresses the exploration of planetary sites which have stood pristine for billions of years.

Green Reconnaissance adheres to the need to probe the inherent science, preserve the fidelity of that science, and work within the intent of science protection protocols with “first contact” of sites by human and robot explorers and their associated equipment, systems, and spacecraft.
(Longer-term development activities of these sites for potential outposts, settlements, or mining operations would eventually see a relaxation of science protection protocols).

Presented is a concept of operations for a green reconnaissance approach for robotically accessing the lava tube cave at the bottom of the Marius Hills Pit located on the Earth's Moon in the Marius Hills region of Oceanus Procellarum.

To protect the pit from contamination by a lander's rocket exhaust and plume blast ejecta, a robotic rover is landed at some distance behind high hills or geologic structures such as volcanic domes found in the surrounding area.

The Leto mission rover traverses a 1 km path to find the lunar pit and deploys a robotic MULE (Multi-Utility Legged Explorer) with a payload suite of science instruments for measuring and exploring the pit and lava tube.

The mission objective is to gain an understanding of the pit and cave characteristics for suitability as a refuge for future habitation and birth of a lunar settlement.

Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis impregnated by Zeus sought a place of refuge to be delivered.

Видео Leto - A Robotic Reconnaissance First Contact Mission (LetoMission001) канала Exploration Architecture