Ruggedizing a Commercial Depth Camera for Novel Lunar Exploration.

The novel contribution of this instrument is to take the first depth images on the moon. A
commercial Kinect camera from Microsoft has been ruggedized for a CLPS mission to the Lunar
South Pole. The 12-megapixel color camera is combined with a 1-megapixel color time-of-flight
(ToF) depth sensor. The solid-state depth sensor/LIDAR provides greater resolution, a wider field
of view, pixel binning, and reduced power consumption. The high-resolution data collected from
the mission can be used to construct a near-field virtual environment of the lunar surface for
scientific applications. The depth camera can provide a 360-degree view of the target area by
combining ToF data with RGB imagery and rover turning.
The unit was evaluated for space flight compliant materials and parts at NASA Ames. The
microphone array, RF shield, front face, and outer body parts were removed to reduce mass.
Plastic parts were replaced with vacuum-compatible materials; manufactured cables were added
to properly interface with the host rover, built by Lunar Outpost. The environmental testing was
performed on the Kinect with Random Vibration/Sine Testing (Fig 1a), per GEVS (NASA’s
General Environmental Verification Standard for spaceflight launch survival). Thermal Vacuum
testing cycled the instrument between expected hot (+ 85 C) and cold survival temperatures, as
well as +50 C and -25 C operational temps (Fig 1b). The instrument functioned nominally at the
conclusion of vibration and thermal cycling tests.
The Azure Kinect is manifested on the Nova-C lander which flies on the Intuitive Machines
mission IM-2, landing at the lunar south pole for a mission duration of 14 days (one lunar
daylight cycle). The unit will be integrated to the MAPP (Mobile Autonomous Prospecting
Platform) rover at Lunar Outpost. The Azure Kinect with ToF feature will improve the resolution
of lunar geology data near the south pole and enable ground-based VR experience of details of
the lunar surface (Fig 1c).