Project Morpheus is a vertical test bed vehicle developed by NASA. The lander is large enough to carry 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of cargo to the moon.[1] The project is an outgrowth of Project M, a NASA initiative to land a humanoid robot on the lunar surface in 1000 days. Morpheus is the second of four risk reduction flying test beds leading up to the spaceflight lunar lander. The primary focus of the Morpheus vehicle is to demonstrate integrated system performance of the autonomous Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) system coupled with terrain hazard avoidance sensors, along with the utilization of a quad configuration liquid oxygen and liquid methane propulsion system.[2][3]
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Project Morpheus started in July 2010 and is named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams.[4] The Morpheus spacecraft is derived from the experimental lander produced by Project M with the assistance of Armadillo Aerospace.[3] The test vehicle was first hot fired on 15 April 2011.[5]
Morpheus's 4000 lbf engine permitted NASA to design a larger vehicle than Armadillo Aerospace's Pixel. Mechanical changes include the landing gear. NASA replaced the avionics and software this includes power distribution and storage, instrumentation, the flight computer, communications and software. The enhanced landing system permits Morpheus, unlike Pixel, to land without help from a pilot.[6]
As of April 2011 NASA is planning a third of 4 prototype vehicles. The third vehicle has enhanced capability and space rated hardware.[6]
The Project Morpheus vehicle 'Morpheus' is a full scale vehicle that NASA intends to be capable of landing Robonaut or a similar sized payload to the lunar surface. The spacecraft will perform all propellant burns after the trans lunar injection.[2] [7]
Morpheus
As of April 2011 the primary focus of the test bed is to demonstrate an integrated propulsion and GN&C system that can fly a lunar descent profile. Thereby exercising the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT), safe landing sensors and closed-loop flight control system.[2]
Additional objectives include technology demonstrations such as tank material and manufacture, reaction control thrusters, main engine performance improvements, Helium pressurization systems, ground operations, flight operations, range safety, software and avionics architecture.[2]
The Sabatier reaction could be used to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) found on Mars into methane, using either found or transported hydrogen, a catalyst, and a source of heat. Hydrogen can be made from water ice which occurs on the Earth's moon.[9]