Modularity is taking off in more ways than one in space exploration. The design of the upcoming “Lunar Gateway” space station is supposed to be modular, with different modules being supplied by different organizations. In an effort to extend that thinking down to rovers on the ground, a new paper from researchers at Germany’s space agency (DLR), developed an architecture where a single, modular rover could be responsible for both exploration and carrying payloads around the Moon or Mars.

The architecture itself is simple enough - use a rover to pull around specialized “payloads”, all of which use a standardized mechanical connection that allows electricity and fluids to flow between the rover and the payload. That connection also allows the rover to pull the payload to where it is needed and connect it to other infrastructure in the area. The payloads could vary depending on the need. They could be a power supply, a suite of scientific instruments, or even construction attachments like a shovel or backhoe.

A typical use case for this type of infrastructure is exemplified by water extraction on the Moon. The rovers, which are derived from the TransRoPorter (TRP) concept originally developed at DLR, would be responsible for scouting where potential water ice might exist. They could then bring the necessary equipment, in the form of payloads, to any ice they discover. They could also then be used to move the water ice from the mining site to locations where it could be better utilized, such as rocket fuel factories of astronaut habitats.