Mobile Payload Element (mpe): Concept Study of a Small, Autonomous and Innovative Sample Fetching Rover

The Mobile Payload Element (MPE) is designed to be a small, autonomous and innovative rover of ~15kg for planetary exploration. Its novel capability is to acquire clearly documented samples from surface as well as subsurface locations, and to bring them back to its lander for further analyses. Although the ESA Lunar Lander served as reference scenario for the MPE development, it is compatible to any alternative landing mission with a similar mission profile. The MPE has a four-wheeled configuration with active suspension and can be tele-operated or navigate autonomously. The current MPE Delta Phase A focusses on the development of the locomotion subsystem and the avionics. The project team also details the concept designs for a dedicated MPE closeup imager and sample transfer mechanism. In addition a concept for an Autonomy Payload Experiment (APE) is being established as an option to enhance the MPE’s autonomy functions.