Heimdall: A flexible build-to-print camera system for conducting lunar science on commercial vehicles

The Heimdall camera system is a high flight-heritage commercial instrument consisting of four 5-megapixel color CMOS cameras and DVR. Heimdall includes a wide-angle descent imager positioned to capture near-video-speed images of the interactions of the lander plume with the lunar regolith, and to document morphologic changes on the surface caused by the exhaust plume. Once landed, this camera will also acquire images of the surface under the spacecraft at 500 μm/pixel, documenting the final state of the regolith after landing. A narrow-angle regolith imager will be positioned looking down, to document disturbed regolith at ~35 μm/pixel. Two wide-angle panoramic imagers (80° field of view [FOV]) will be positioned to look outward to image the local terrain for context and mapping (5 mm/pixel at 10 m distance).

Science Goals are to (1) model the properties of the regolith; and (2) characterize and map geologic features, providing inputs to models of geology and environment, as well as quantitative data on slopes, elevations, and block populations. Exploration Goals are to (1) model plume/regolith interaction during descent; and (2) characterize potential landing/trafficability hazards. Our Technology Goal is to document and support lander activities as desired by NASA, the lander provider, or other payloads.