Lunar Mission OB2
"Targeting 2031, OBI's end-to-end sample return–from PSR cores to curated canisters–unlocks ISRU, science, and industry."
Orbit Beyond has planned an end-to-end lunar sample-return mission targeting a 2031 launch that maximizes value in samples, data, and surface infrastructure. We will target helium-prospective south-polar terrain with complementary PSR reconnaissance, using Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) rover operations to acquire scoops/cores with full context (imagery, geo-tags, traverse traces, instrument logs). Samples will be sealed in contamination-controlled canisters (with volatile-preservation options) and transferred by an ascent element to lunar orbit for controlled Earth return. On the surface, we will demonstrate Data-as-a-Service (DaaS)—edge processing, compression, and prioritized store-and-forward—alongside MaaS operations and a 4G/LTE network to boost data yield and shorten time-to-insight. In parallel, we will map He-3 proxies in situ, return calibration samples to ground-truth orbital signatures, and run small-scale thermal-release/beneficiation tests to quantify recoverable yield and energy cost. The resulting datasets will feed cross-mission models and IP development (extraction parameters, sensing/analytics pipelines, surface networking playbooks), creating a repeatable path from reconnaissance to resource utilization. Outcome: research-grade samples with trusted provenance, PSR observations, and validated surface services that raise TRL for future campaigns and deliver durable scientific and commercial value.