Lunar Site Preparation Technology Development from ASPECT

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

Announced at the NASA Ignition event, the Artemis Program includes the goal to build a Moon Base. Building the Moon Base will require stabilizing the ground for human habitats, infrastructure, such as power generating elements, including vertical solar arrays and fission surface power, and landing pads. These ground stabilizing tasks are known as Lunar Site Preparation and involve site clearing, leveling, and compaction, a process known as lunar site preparation. The Moon Base, and other activities, such as the Lunar Innovation Park, will require repeated landings near each other. Lunar landers of all size generate a significant volume of high-velocity ejecta on landing due to rocket plume interaction with surface regolith. To protect high-value assets and ensure long-term operational viability the construction of structurally sound launch and landing pads (LLPs) is critical. Site preparation is a natural first step for LLP construction. Even if a structurally sound LLP is not built, the site preparation methods shown here will mitigate regolith ejecta on launch and landing. This paper details the progress of the ASPECT project (Automated Site Preparation, Excavation, Compaction, and Testing), funded by the NASA LuSTR21 program. The ASPECT project has developed and demonstrated site preparation capabilities through a multidisciplinary collaboration of lunar technology experts, roboticists, and computer scientists. The ASPECT mobility platform utilizes a Lunar Outpost Hound rover, autonomous task-planning algorithms, a rock and regolith grader developed by Colorado School of Mines, and a specialized compactor from Michigan Technological University. We present experimental results from testing the ASPECT system within a large (> 100 m2 ), high-fidelity lunar regolith test bed prepared with high fidelity initial lunar-like topographies and surface density. Key metrics, including power, time, and energy, of grading in isolated tasks and in a 10 m diameter site preparation area are shown. We conclude with lessons learned and strategic recommendations for advancing autonomous lunar civil engineering to support the next generation of lunar surface infrastructure.

Publication Title

Ascend 2026

ISBN

[9781624107689]

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