Manatee Mining Systems

Project Statement

Rafael Arndt – Jonathan Block – Zachary Griffa – Michael Riley

David Swanson – Michael Varga – Ryan Waldmann – Eugen Zinn
 Manatee Mining Systems

Project Statement:

Problem Statement.
State the problem / issues to be addressed. Very general identification of the need.

Lunar regolith is a rich source of raw materials such as oxygen and metals. It also
contains trace particles of helium-3 which could be used in next-generation nuclear
fusion power plants on the moon. Lunar regolith’s consistency should allow for
relatively easy strip mining. A lunar excavator is needed to collect lunar regolith and
transport it to a feasible location. In the interest of gathering new and creative ideas to
build such a device, NASA has created a competition between universities to build a
lunar excavator and test it in a simulated lunar environment.

Statement of Work (Goal).

Provide a short and concise statement of work. What is planned to be done, by whom and by when.

The Manatee Mining Systems team will build a lunar excavator compliant with
NASA’s Lunabotics mining competition rules and requirements by May 2010. The
work will be divided into three sections: finding a solution, designing the solution, and
building the solution. These parts will be completed in November 2010, February 2011,
and May 2011, respectively.
 Manatee Mining Systems

Project Objectives:
Provide a brief, concise list of what the project is to accomplish.

-The mass of the excavator must not exceed 80kg

-All excavation hardware must be initially contained within a 1.5m width x .75m
length x 2m height volume.
-The excavator must be controlled through telerobotic or autonomous operation.
-The excavator must be self-powered.
-The excavator must be equipped with a red emergency stop button,
having a minimum diameter of 5cm.
-Excavation methods must be feasible on a lunar mission.
-Components are not required to be space qualified for vacuum,
electromagnetic, and thermal effects.
-The excavator must be able to collect and unload at least 10kg of material in a 15
minute time period.
-The excavator must be able to unload its collection container over a 1m-high barrier.
-The excavator must meet NASA’s Lunabotics mining competition requirements (most
of which are afore mentioned).
-Entry into NASA’s completion is preferred but not required.