UH Hilo’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) hosts teams from the around the country to test robotic instruments that will be used in upcoming missions to the moon.

Scientists and engineers, assisted by PISCES staff and Hilo students will conduct a full mission simulation featuring three NASA developed robotics, including the Selectively Compliant Articulated Robot Arm Rover. The tests are designed to provide participants hands-on experience with specific technical challenges to be anticipated when humans return to the moon by 2020, explore the lunar surface and set up outposts.

“It’s one thing to test an instrument in the laboratory. But that really doesn’t tell you how it will perform during a lunar mission,” says John Hamilton, research operations manager. “Our challenge is to replicate those conditions as closely as possible to ensure that the test results will be a true reflection of how these instruments will perform on the Moon.”

Link

Link to PISCES