Mission Control Space Services Inc.|Mission Control Space Services Inc.

Purpose

Rovers are expected to play an important role in commercial exploration of the Moon. However, current rover technology is expensive and requires continuous management by operators back on Earth. Using rovers will be more cost-effective if they are able to perform more tasks on their own with more flexible options for the operators that manage them. This project will develop easy-to-use mission control software to support ongoing, low-cost rover operations and allow rovers to navigate and carry out tasks more independently. The software will be cloud-based to allow commercial space companies, mission operators, and researchers operate frequent, short-duration lunar missions from anywhere on Earth. This project will help to lower the cost of lunar rover missions, making space exploration more accessible a to wider range of Canadian companies. It will eventually allow non-experts, including students and members of the Canadian public, to engage lunar missions more easily.