New approaches in low power and mass payload for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for lunar surface exploration

From dozens up to hundreds of autonomous sensors would create their own ad-hoc Wireless Sensor Network for planetary surface exploration. In order to achieve a realistic cost of the mission it is mandatory to reduce the cost of each individual node, i.e. reducing its mass, volume and power consumption. This will lead to a more advantageous cost/reliability balance. A low mass and low power consumption platform and payload for lunar surface exploration is presented herein with a focus on a novel Dust Deposition Sensor (ultra-low mass sensor/actuator system including tests results) and a Radiation Sensor implemented in a rad-hard mixed signal Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).