This page outlines a proposed sequence of space tether development missions, beginning with lowering small payloads to the Moon and culminating in distributed, fault-tolerant rover swarms capable of near-continuous sunlight traversal.
The core idea is to trade single large rovers for cooperating swarms of small, tether-delivered robotic payloads that can physically link together, share power and functions, and tolerate multiple failures without total mission loss.
Continuous or near-continuous access to sunlight on the Moon dramatically simplifies power, thermal management, and operations. However, the surface speed required to remain in sunlight depends strongly on latitude:
| Latitude | Required Average Speed | Approx. Earth Speed |
|---|---|---|
| 0° (Equator) | 4.67 m/s | ≈ 10.5 mph |
| 85° | 0.37 m/s | ≈ 0.8 mph |
Achieving equatorial sun-synchronous traversal with a single small rover is extremely challenging. Achieving it with a cooperative train of rovers may be feasible.
A rotating lunar orbital tether is assumed, capable of lowering payloads gently to the surface. Key features:
The tether does not need to deliver a single large rover. Instead, it delivers a self-assembling surface system.
This approach lowers per-payload cost, reduces risk, and allows partial mission success even with individual failures.
Ten 10-kg rovers form a physically connected “train” or swarm. Each rover is a peer, not a disposable unit.
The result is a distributed, fault-tolerant solar-electric locomotive operating on the lunar surface.
Rovers connect via a simple, robust mechanical coupling:
This design reduces mass, software complexity, and power consumption for non-lead rovers.
Following rovers roll on compacted regolith created by the lead rover, reducing rolling resistance and required traction. By rotating which rover leads, wear and power demand are shared across the swarm.
Each rover carries its own solar panels and power electronics. When connected:
At equatorial speeds (~10.5 mph), plowing would be used only sparingly, primarily to escape difficult terrain rather than for continuous operation.
The swarm assembles incrementally:
This bootstrapping approach avoids the need for precision landing of all payloads in a single spot.
A proposed program structure:
Universities may allocate mass however they wish:
This creates a real, flight-ready robotics competition rather than a purely academic exercise.
Trains or swarms of ten 10-kg rovers appear plausible as an early lunar surface system enabled by tether delivery. The concept leverages redundancy, incremental assembly, and competition to tackle one of the hardest problems in lunar exploration: high-speed, long-duration, solar-powered traversal.
Even if equatorial sun-synchronous travel proves too ambitious initially, the architecture remains valuable for polar and mid-latitude missions—and provides a natural evolutionary path toward larger, more capable lunar infrastructure.