Compact Lidar Spectrometer for Mars, Lunar Science and ISRU Prospecting

Fibertek proposes to develop a rover-based Compact Lidar Spectrometer (CLS) to facilitate the long-range detection of water ice, other surface volatile species, and minerals within the 1.5 µm to 4 µm wavelength band. The CLS uniquely combines traditional three-dimensional (3D) lidar terrain mapping with standoff spectral mapping capabilities. The CLS can operate with high SNR without sunlight and in Permanently shadowed Regions (PSRs) of Mars, the moon, and other planetary bodies. This system is engineered to deliver both spectral and range data from approximately 10 meters to 5,000 meters. A Mars or lunar vehicle equipped with the CLS can efficiently survey large areas and precisely locate water ice, minerals, and other volatiles of interest. This capability enables the rover to strategically navigate to high-potential areas, minimizing risk while providing lidar terrain mapping. Once an area of interest is identified, the rover can move to the location, allowing the deployment of other scientific or in situ resource utilization (ISRU) instruments.

The proposed Compact Lidar Spectrometer (CLS) instrument addresses two major applications areas for NASA: planetary science and in situ resource utilization (ISRU). The CLS provides a tool for the Mars, lunar, and planetary science communities to quickly map out large areas of water ice, other volatile species, and minerology. The CLS provides highly localized site examinations of < 1 square meter to support rover sample site collection decisions. Information mapped by the CLS instrument can be used to prioritize areas of interest for further investigation to maximize the scientific return. A CLS equipped rover can utilize the terrain mapping capability to maneuver safely and efficiently to the area of interest where other scientific or in situ resource utilization instrumentation can be deployed. In addition to NASA scientists, CLS customers would include major aerospace and emerging CLPS mission primes who will bid on future Mars, lunar, and planetary mission opportunities. In situ resource utilization (ISRU) on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids is of significant interest not only to NASA but also to privately-owned companies. Several companies are keen on asteroid mining, and a CLS instrument could be employed to map locations where rare materials are found. Furthermore, the CLS instrument could be adapted for terrestrial lidar surveys. The infrared spectra from the CLS would provide information about the vegetation and mineral content of the target area, in addition to the ranging data collected in traditional lidar surveys. This capability could be utilized for various scientific and land management applications, including the analysis of crops, forests, and rock formations.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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