LUNA Motion Capturing System

The QYRO project is a joint effort of Robert Bosch GmbH, Q.ANT, Trumpf Photonic Components, Trumpf Laser Berlin, Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH), and the German Aerospace Center Galileo Competence Center (DLR-GK). Its purpose is to promote Germany’s role in the space sector by demonstrating the performance of a miniaturised next generation quantum optical gyroscope and therefore pave the way for a commercial use of this new technology for a German company on the promising New Space market.
Therefore, the project shall design and develop a miniaturized, high precision nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Gyroscope for the use in the satellites. This quantum-based gyro – QYRO – shall be launched and validated in space against state-of-the-art attitude determination systems for CubeSat missions. For that purpose, DLR’s task in this project is to establish the definition and design of the mission to host the QYRO unit. Followed by supporting the other project partners to manufacture a space qualified version of the ground based QYRO unit.
Additionally, DLR KN with the support from GK, will integrate GALANT phased array antenna for space positioning applications, which additionally will be investigated in a first approximation to make the interference detection function usable in space.
The payload will be constituted by two QYRO units, the GALANT electronics module together with its antenna module, a reference gyroscope and finally a payload computer.
The mission will be launched into an SSO with an apoapsis and periapsis height under 600 km. In terms of operations, communications and the payload on-board computer software, the valuable experience of DLR-SC and DLR-RB will contribute to a successful operation of the CubeSat.
The last stage of the project would comprise launching and operating the CubeSat in space to conduct the in-orbit validation test campaign.
The Contractor shall be responsible of providing the 16U platform for the Flight Model of PETER, support its integration and testing, contribute to the tools for its control and, additionally, providing the payload computer together with the necessary libraries and tools required to implement the payload control software on it. Further details about the Contractor requirements and responsibilities have been defined in the attached Specification of Services.

As part of a larger global vision for human-lunar exploration, DLR and ESA are jointly constructing a lunar analogue facility, named LUNA. This facility shall provide capabilities for astronaut training, engineering, and scientific research to a wide range of users. As such, the facility is not limited to human factors research but shall also support the development of robotic and lunar infrastructure systems for the exploration of the moon. The LUNA facility will support the simulation of lunar extravehicular activities (EVAs) at the highest possible fidelity. All systems deployed in the LUNA facility are in support of this mission, including the Motion Capturing System.
The purpose of the LUNA Motion Capturing System, following referred to as “MoCap”, is to provide the LUNA facility with the capability of tracking astronauts and robots on the surface of the facility. The facility contains a 700m2 regolith-filled lunar surface simulation-area. Within this area, the MoCap system shall operate and provide researchers and engineers with high-resolution motion capturing data.

Further information can be found in the attached Statement of Work (contract documents).