Lunar Lander
Lunar Lander mmWave Radar Solutions
Plextek specializes in the design and construction of mission-critical radar solutions, with expertise spanning from UHF to mmWave technologies over the past 35 years. Around 5 years ago, Plextek started applying this radar knowledge into the space sector, successfully including radar payloads on two missions for micro debris detection in low Earth orbit. Using this heritage and platform, Plextek are now developing radar for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and even exploring potential for off-world applications.
Plextek is a trusted partner of Texas Instruments (TI) for mmWave technology, utilizing a common platform with low size, weight, power consumption, and manufacturing costs (low-SWaP-C) for future space missions. The mmWave radar IP includes high-efficiency antennas, increased gain and sensitivity, and environmental protection and redundancy mechanisms.
Benefits of Radar Sensors
We developed our mmWave radar sensors to offer precise range and velocity measurements in challenging conditions, including dust and difficult lighting scenarios. These radar sensors provide highly configurable settings for different stages of a mission’s trajectory, such as landing assistance.
Plextek’s low-SWaP-C variants of mmWave radars are lightweight, consume less than 3W of power, and are compact in size, can be as small as a smartphone. This small footprint design enables multiple sensor redundancy, useful for systems that require reliable guidance data for safe landing in an environment that could disturb quantities of lunar regolith and dust in final approach and landing.
Lunar Lander technology overview
Utilizing mmWave radar sensors for Lunar Landers provides centimeter-level resolution and operates independently of challenging environmental conditions including obscured vision.
Having multiple miniature radar sensors presents advantages such as providing information on surface slope, detecting obstacles that may hinder landing feet, and ensuring complete 3D spatial awareness to aid foot positioning . Just like Earth, the Moon has regions of flatter areas, craters, hills and even mountains, with no protective atmosphere it is constantly hit by micrometeoroid.
Radar & Space Heritage
At Plextek, our expertise in mission-critical radar solutions makes us the perfect partner for Lunar Landing technology. With proven success in radar design and construction, including mmWave technology, we offer highly configurable radar sensors for precise range and velocity measurements in all conditions. Our long history of delivering complex solutions includes reliable radar technology with features like high-efficiency antennas and environmental protection mechanisms.
Technical Paper – Sensing in Space
Explore the cutting-edge technology of mmWave radar and its impact on space missions in our technical paper “Sensing in Space”. Gain insights into safety and efficiency improvements, customization options, and performance optimization. Stay informed about the latest advancements in space technology.
