GrainCams is a suite comprising two cameras: SurfCam and LevCam, developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) for the Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS). SurfCam utilizes a light field camera with a Micro Lens Array (MLA) to capture 3D images of the fairy castle structures on the lunar surface. LevCam is designed to detect dust lofting above the lunar surface. Surviving extreme environments, including launch vibrations, lunar surface temperatures, space radiation, etc., necessitates thorough safety reviews, verification, and reliable ground testing of the system. This paper presents the comprehensive test results of GrainCams engineering qualification model (EQM), along with the cameras' performance following space environment tests such as Total Ionizing Dose (TID), Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMC), vibration/shock, and thermal-vacuum tests. Performance test analysis plays a crucial role in ensuring mission success. TID and EMC tests assess the space radiation endurance and electronic compatibility of the electrical components. The vibration/shock test evaluates mechanical stiffness and frequency characteristics during launch. Additionally, GrainCams undergoes temperature variation in the thermal-vacuum test to assess system performance under lunar operational conditions. Our demonstration confirms that GrainCams meet system requirements, and their performance in harsh environments is substantiated by the shared test results.
The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) is developing GrainCams as a candidate payload for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission. GrainCams consists of two cameras designed for scientific research on the lunar regolith and levitating particulates. One of them is LevCam, which observes the motion of levitating dust over the lunar surface. The other is SurfCam, a camera intended for observing the uppermost regolith on the lunar surface. The purpose of SurfCam is to get knowledge of the regolith on the lunar surface and obtain 3D images of the micro-structures through image processing with a micro-lens array (MLA). SurfCam consists of 1 cover window, 12 spherical lenses, and MLA. All optics use space-qualified glass material to carry out a one-lunar-day mission on the moon. Optical and mechanical designs have been developed so far, and an analysis of how stray light affects the overall system has been conducted. In this paper, I will describe the analysis of ghosting and scattering effects in SurfCam through stray light analysis.
The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) is currently developing GrainCams as a candidate payload for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). GrainCams consists of two instruments to be mounted on a rover: LevCam, which observes levitating dust near the lunar surface, and SurfCam, designed to observe lunar regolith. Over the past two years, LevCam and SurfCam have been engaged in optical and optomechanical design work, conducting various analyses to assess manufacturability. SurfCam, being a light field camera, has seen the development of a prototype to measure initial optical performance, along with conducting preliminary assembly and alignment. Despite some minor optical specification changes this year, the overall development is still ongoing. The paper will cover SurfCam's assembly and alignment strategies and performance measurement aspects.
GrainCams is a lunar rover payload designed to explore lunar dust. It is a suite of two light field cameras: SurfCam and LevCam. The main goal of SurfCam is to provide 3D imaging of fairy castle structures believed to exist on the lunar surface. LevCam’s objective is to understand dust speed and track the trail of lofting dust on the lunar surface. The mechanical stiffness of the camera is capable of enduring the vibration and shock conditions of the launcher. Thus, we conducted the opto-mechanical design for Surfam and analyzed the safety through theoretical estimation. The safety of whole structure is also reviewed from structural analysis such as linear static analysis and modal analysis. These cameras will operate in the extreme temperature of the moon. To achieve a viable thermal design despite the extreme lunar thermal environment and uncertainty of the payload interface with the rover, we assumed a thermal adiabatic payload interface and employed passive (e.g., thermal insulation blankets (MLIs), surface control of thermal radiation, specially designed radiators with an inclination angle of 36.5° to effectively avoid Solar flux and maximize unobstructed view of space relative to the lunar surface in hot cases) and active (e.g., heaters) thermal control techniques. Each camera should weigh no more than 5 kg and consume no more than 20 W of power. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of the structure design of GrainCams.
The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute is developing GrainCam as a candidate payload for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS). GrainCam is a suite of two light field cameras: one of which is called SurfCam to observe the uppermost regolith on the lunar surface, and the other is LevCam to observe levitating dust over the lunar surface. This paper includes SurfCam's optical design and related analyses. The main goal of SurfCam is to get knowledge of the regolith on the lunar surface and obtain 3D images of the micro-structures through image processing with a micro-lens array (MLA). SurfCam consists of 1 cover glass and 12 spherical lenses. All lenses use space-qualified glass material to carry out a one-lunar-day mission on the moon and are designed to keep the required performance at the operating temperature of -20 ~ +60°𝐶. SurfCam based on the design works will conduct various tests to verify the overall performance through assembly and alignment.
We have developed the PolCube payload, a polarimeter camera for 12U CubeSat mission, in order to demonstrate the performance feasibility technically since 2019. Main objectives of the PolCube camera are the dust detection around Korean peninsula and monitoring super-thin clouds distribution on global oceans. KASI and Korean consortium members maintain a good collaboration with NASA LaRC team in this project. PolCube is a compact payload under 5kg in mass and under 15W in power consumption. This payload has two optical heads, two detectors with 1280 x 1024 CMOS array format, and two filter sets with 4 wavelengths and 0, 60, 90, 120 polarization angles. Each optical head has a field of view of 10 degrees (Swath width ~ 98km) at the altitude of 567km Sun-synchronous orbit. 12U CubeSat spacecraft will be made by a CubeSat company managed by Busan city & KIOST in Korea. In this paper, we will describe the current design of the PolCube payload development.
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