TALARIS: A Prototype Vehicle to Develop Hopping GNC Software and Operational Experience

The Terrestrial Artificial Lunar And Reduced gravIty Simulator (TALARIS) project has designed, built, and tested a prototype lunar hopping vehicle, which operates in an Earthside lab facility using dual propulsion systems. An air-breathing propulsion system uses electric ducted fans to offset Earth's high gravity by delivering thrust equal to 5/6 of the vehicle's weight, and provides an environment dynamically similar to the one encountered on the Moon. The second propulsion system uses nitrogen thrusters to emulate the behavior of impulsive engines, such as would be used on a space vehicle. This arrangement allows for testing of GNC technologies and operational methods on the Earth. The TALARIS project is a collaboration between Draper Laboratory and MIT as part of the Google Lunar X-Prize (GLXP). Hopping technology and techniques developed as part of this project have the potential to be game-changers in the exploration of planetary surfaces. After the GLXP concludes, the technology will be extended to applications on other planetary surfaces, including potentially Mars, Europa, Titan, and some large asteroids.