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Pacific International Science Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) Conference – Nov 12, 2008

Commercial Lunar Business Perspectives

John KohutChief Executive Officer

Astrobotic Technology, Inc.

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Phases of Global Lunar Investment

*Astrobotic estimate based upon national projections/estimates

Growth market for lunar robotic systems

2004 through 2018 2015 through 2030 2025 and beyond

Agencies building human transportation systems

Emplace habitats with power, comms; test resource recovery

Develop resources for use on Moon and on Earth

Emerging Market

Robotic experimentation with resource utilization

Fabrication and emplacement of systems prior to humans

Conceptual

In Development

$90B+ Globally* $200B Globally** $500B Globally**

**Astrobotic estimate based upon analogous events/industries

Near Term Need

Lunar data for landing site topography and environment

Engineering data for systems design and fabrication

Long Term Market

Robotic multiplication of human labor

Autonomous exploration, mining, operations

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Two aspects to Astrobotic Technology

Race to the Moon

High GrowthLunar Business

Pittsburgh Post-

Gazette95¢

******

******

**

**

******

*****

EXTRA

Wednesday

May 19, 2010

BACK TO MOON

Astrobotic Lands a $20M Firs

t!

Pittsburgh le

ads

Return to M

oon

Red Whitta

ker

Wins another Data/IP

Tranquility Trek

Win X Prize and

visit Apollo 11

Q2 - 2010

Prove precision landing technology

"Weathering" of Apollo 11 site materials

Measure rate of micrometeorite impacts

Characterize dust from descent plume

South Pole Scout

Shackleton Crater Rim

Q3 - 2011

Survey landing pad and habitat locations

Ground truth on illumination patterns

Characterize soil and dust conditions

Prove ability to survive the night

North Pole Scout

TBD Crater Rim

Q1 - 2012

Survey landing pad and habitat locations

Ground truth on illumination patterns

Characterize soil and dust conditions

Prove ability to survive the night

Moon Quake 1

Shackleton Crater Rim

Q3 - 2012

Collect seismic and weather data

Prove multi-year ability to function

Laser communication test

Constant TV view of Earth

Ice Surveyor

Shackleton Crater Floor

Q2 - 2013

Confirm water and other volatiles exist

Determine variability of ice concentration

(By location and by depth)

MissionMultiple Missions

CorporateSponsorships

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18

Governments Media & Industry

DiversifiedRevenue Sources

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Prize rules:Land on the Moon

Travel 500 meters

Send HD imagery

Carry X Prize logo

Complete mission by 2012

Collect $20 million

Bonus prizes:Travel 5 kmHeritage siteSurvive nightDiverse team

Astrobotic Plans:Win GLXP with 2010 landing near Apollo 11 historic siteProve capability to collect lunar data, deliver payloads and perform robotic services

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AstroboticAstrobotic acquires data, generates media content, delivers payloads and services on the Moon through

self-defined and executed missions using proven robotic and aerospace technologies and systems

Customers AstroboticLunar

Missions

• Collect data• Deliver

payloads• Conduct

experiments• Build

Infrastructure

Process and Archive Data

Results

Ast

robo

ticLu

nar

Lib

rary

Academia

Lunar data, payloads and

operation requirements

AerospaceCompanies

Space Agencies

Non-aerospacecompanies withlunar interests

Creative Media

Contract Data Sales

Multi-Client Data Sales

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Series of Commercial Lunar Robotic MissionsData/IP

Tranquility TrekWin X Prize andvisit Apollo 11

Q2 - 2010

Prove precision landing technology"Weathering" of Apollo 11 site materialsMeasure rate of micrometeorite impactsCharacterize dust from descent plume

South Pole ScoutShackleton Crater Rim

Q3 - 2011

Survey landing pad and habitat locationsGround truth on illumination patternsCharacterize soil and dust conditionsProve ability to survive the night

North Pole ScoutTBD Crater Rim

Q1 - 2012

Survey landing pad and habitat locationsGround truth on illumination patternsCharacterize soil and dust conditionsProve ability to survive the night

Moon Quake 1Shackleton Crater Rim

Q3 - 2012

Collect seismic and weather dataProve multi-year ability to functionLaser communication testConstant TV view of Earth

Ice SurveyorShackleton Crater Floor

Q2 - 2013

Confirm water and other volatiles existDetermine variability of ice concentration(By location and by depth)

Mission

Evolving lunar robotic systems will need regular field testing

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Robotic Testing Requirements

Surface Rover Testing Lander Testing

• Mobility• Navigation• Obstacle recognition and avoidance

• Sensor system performance

• Regolith movement• ISRU experiments

• Landing characteristics• Plume effects• Obstacle recognition and avoidance

• Rover dismount operations

• Terrain fidelity• Regolith fidelity• Operational flexibility and availability

• Ease of access• Economic value

Test Facility:

Field campaigns for realistic operator training and reliability testing

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Potential Products/Services for Test Facilities

• Landing/outpost topology• Regolith properties• Illumination characteristics• Communications lines

Benefits to PISCES:• Improve general test site fidelity• Recreate specific landing area characteristics

• Grade and obstacles• Illumination

• Detailed regolith composition and physical properties

Mutually beneficial relationship over long term

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Preliminary observations from November 2008

Site realism for lunar robotic missions

• Size – Limited at current site, better at Pala Valley (Moon Crater)

• Topography – Interesting features, reasonable soil characteristics

• Vegetation – Excessive at current site, good at Pala Valley

Access

• Local – roads need improvement at both sites, political issues need further refinement to enable broader range use

• Global – comparable to other sites

Infrastructure

• Technical support – Excellent, centralized electrical and mechanical shops at UHH facilities

• Lodging and facilities – Very good on site and access to many facilities, cost may be an issue

• Media access – Very good

• Environment – Very long test season, Pala Valley altitude and temperature

A

B

B

Further development required but PISCES is off to a good start

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