Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

noosfractal · 2007-07-23 01:05:42

My read is that they want it for subsurface data - structure foundations and ISRU resources - which makes sense for a zillion dollar base, and to plan EVAs which they talk about in terms of 100 hours per year total.

Something really needs to be done about the whole fear of EVA thing.

cIclops · 2007-07-23 03:34:33

Structure foundations? the Outpost will be as light as possible and won't need them, there will probably be regolith shielding but that's not much weight. The wind shouldn't be a problem either

Maybe they hope to find water ice just under the surface if it's not directly on the surface.

Using robots with MER capability for general survey work makes sense to locate interesting sites for astronauts to visit. They can continue to survey after the astronauts leave to prepare for the next visit. It seems the first visits will only be 1 or 2 weeks until the base is expanded.

cIclops · 2007-08-04 04:32:25

Four more science packages - 3 Aug 2007

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected four proposals focusing on astrophysics priorities in lunar science to facilitate the nation's exploration program. The proposed studies are part of a NASA effort to develop new opportunities to conduct important science investigations during the planned renewal of human exploration of the moon.
The newly-announced proposals for concept studies may lead to experiments placed on the moon that would allow for unprecedented tests of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, instruments to probe the early evolution of structure in the universe, and observation of X-rays produced by the charged particles the sun emits, known as the solar wind. Instruments based on these concept studies also would provide unique information on the interior structure of the moon and on Earth-moon interactions.
"We're very excited by the proposals the scientific community sent us to advance lunar science through astrophysics," said Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. "The moon figures prominently in NASA's exploration goals, and these projects each give us a way to expand our knowledge of the moon and our universe on a greater scale."
Two concept studies propose to place suitcase-sized instruments at various locations on the moon so the distance from the Earth to the moon can be determined to the submillimeter level. These observations will yield a wealth of science, including precision tests of general relativity and greater understanding of the structure of the moon and Earth-moon interactions. The proposals are:
-- "A Lunar Laser Ranging Array for the 21st Century" from the University of Maryland at College Park. Douglas Currie is Principal Investigator.
-- "Precision Lunar Laser Ranging" from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Stephen Merkowitz is Principal Investigator.
A third concept study proposes to place a small radio telescope array on the moon to study particle acceleration in celestial objects such as supernovae, quasars and the solar corona. It also will serve as a pathfinder for a future possible radio telescope to measure the growth of structure in the early universe. The study is "Radio Observatory for Lunar Sortie Science" from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. Joseph Lazio is Principal Investigator.
The fourth project will measure X-ray emissions caused by the solar wind and its interactions with Earth's magnetosphere. It also will help improve future measurements of low-energy X-ray emission from our galaxy. "Lunar-Based Soft X-ray Science" is the study from Goddard. Michael Collier is Principal Investigator.

Grypd · 2007-08-04 08:58:22

Structure foundations? the Outpost will be as light as possible and won't need them, there will probably be regolith shielding but that's not much weight. The wind shouldn't be a problem either
Maybe they hope to find water ice just under the surface if it's not directly on the surface.
Using robots with MER capability for general survey work makes sense to locate interesting sites for astronauts to visit. They can continue to survey after the astronauts leave to prepare for the next visit. It seems the first visits will only be 1 or 2 weeks until the base is expanded.

The outpost may be of light structural weight but the Moon lander will not and it makes sense for a rover to have surveyed the landing site and to have placed beacons to aid the landers. It also makes sense that rovers which can last for long periods and dont need supplies keep surveying and finding sites that we want the more effective human explorers to investigate. And of course there is nothing to stop the rovers having the capability to actually develop the landing site for the humans to come.

cIclops · 2007-09-11 14:59:15

Enabling Exploration: The Lunar Outpost and Beyond - Workshop in Houston, 1 Oct 2007

(edited) Questions to be addressed:
What are the synergies between the exploration goals of other nations and the Vision for Space Exploration?
What are the (perceived) obstacles to international coordination in the Vision for Space Exploration and what are the solutions?
What are critical ISRU, surface operation, and transportation-related demonstrations that are needed to transition from establishment of an outpost to long-term sustainability of robotic and human lunar exploration?
What opportunities are there for private sector space and/or international coordination in proving and integrating ISRU and other capabilities required for outpost sustainability into the current NASA lunar architecture?
How do these opportunities support other international space agency and commercial space development objectives?
What precursor demonstration missions would significantly reduce the cost and/or risk of establishing the outpost and long-term robotic and human exploration of the Moon and beyond?
What can we learn from robotic missions before the next human landing?
What do we need to learn from robotic missions before lunar settlement and commercial development?
What role could be played by small, robotic lunar missions?
What role could state governments play in lunar exploration?
Can the CEV SIM Bay be used for deployment of robotic exploration missions?
What opportunities are there for private sector participation within the current architecture?
How can increased private sector participation be better facilitated to ensure the sustainability of the outpost?
What technologies exist and what technologies need to be developed in order to reduce risk/cost for (1) robotic sample return, (2) human sample return, and (3) robotic-human sample return?
What analysis can be done on the surface robotically and with crew versus required sample return?
What are the limiting technologies for analysis on the lunar surface versus sample return?
What are the roles of NASA, non-U.S. space agencies, and the private sector in sampling the Moon?
What were the lessons learned from Apollo (i.e., what worked and what didn’t?)?
What technologies need to be developed to facilitate field operations for the establishment and maintenance of a lunar outpost, as well as for scientific exploration?
What are the drivers for the site of the lunar outpost and have they changed from the criteria previously used?
Building upon the wealth of material that has been previously published, what is the “ideal” site for operations, science, exploration, ISRU, commerce, and/or international coordination?

Plenty of questions!

Tom Kalbfus · 2007-09-11 17:01:52

Four more science packages - 3 Aug 2007
WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected four proposals focusing on astrophysics priorities in lunar science to facilitate the nation's exploration program. The proposed studies are part of a NASA effort to develop new opportunities to conduct important science investigations during the planned renewal of human exploration of the moon.
The newly-announced proposals for concept studies may lead to experiments placed on the moon that would allow for unprecedented tests of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, instruments to probe the early evolution of structure in the universe, and observation of X-rays produced by the charged particles the sun emits, known as the solar wind. Instruments based on these concept studies also would provide unique information on the interior structure of the moon and on Earth-moon interactions.
"We're very excited by the proposals the scientific community sent us to advance lunar science through astrophysics," said Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. "The moon figures prominently in NASA's exploration goals, and these projects each give us a way to expand our knowledge of the moon and our universe on a greater scale."
Two concept studies propose to place suitcase-sized instruments at various locations on the moon so the distance from the Earth to the moon can be determined to the submillimeter level. These observations will yield a wealth of science, including precision tests of general relativity and greater understanding of the structure of the moon and Earth-moon interactions. The proposals are:
-- "A Lunar Laser Ranging Array for the 21st Century" from the University of Maryland at College Park. Douglas Currie is Principal Investigator.
-- "Precision Lunar Laser Ranging" from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Stephen Merkowitz is Principal Investigator.
A third concept study proposes to place a small radio telescope array on the moon to study particle acceleration in celestial objects such as supernovae, quasars and the solar corona. It also will serve as a pathfinder for a future possible radio telescope to measure the growth of structure in the early universe. The study is "Radio Observatory for Lunar Sortie Science" from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. Joseph Lazio is Principal Investigator.
The fourth project will measure X-ray emissions caused by the solar wind and its interactions with Earth's magnetosphere. It also will help improve future measurements of low-energy X-ray emission from our galaxy. "Lunar-Based Soft X-ray Science" is the study from Goddard. Michael Collier is Principal Investigator.

I noticed quite a few of these missions have little to do with the Moon except as a site for conducting the experiment or observation.

I think a Moonbase ought to in large part be about the Moon. If it is to be a base for Astronomy, a reason needs to be given as to why the surface of the Moon would be superior to free space. Perhaps as a source of materials perhaps? What are the main reasons for establishing this base besides politics or giving the astronauts something to do while they are over there? Perhaps to sample the materials, do some small scale ore processing, maybe have a furnace there and seem what can be done with the local materials. Try to explore some avenues which migh attract commerical enterprise, maybe extract some Helium-3, water, manufature rocket fuel, not so much for any specific purpose but to see if it could be done.

cIclops · 2007-09-12 00:25:39

I noticed quite a few of these missions have little to do with the Moon except as a site for conducting the experiment or observation.

Checkout the earlier message about seven more proposed science packages for lunar exploration. With these four that makes eleven altogether. Only two of them are using the moon as a platform for observations (one radio, one X-ray), the other nine are focused on the moon:

4 lunar science experiments (seismology & heat flow, dust, radiation, geophysics)
3 ranging experiments for moon - earth studies
2 regolith experiments

These "suitcase" packages are for early deployment during the first missions, later expect to see substantial facilities. All this is planning for many years ahead, a lot may change.

cIclops · 2007-09-12 12:08:23

Lunar Architecture refined

Sep 12, 2007
Frank Morring, Jr./Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Future lunar explorers may set out from their base at one of the moon's poles for long-distance surface sorties in pressurized rovers hardened against the galactic cosmic radiation that makes extravehicular activity (EVA) dangerous to their health in the long run.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin has given his OK to refinements in his agency's lunar-surface architecture -- the set of broad concepts that will drive development of the hardware human explorers will use in the decade after 2020, according to Doug Cooke, deputy associate administrator for exploration systems.
"We've drilled down on the concepts to get a more detailed understanding of performance and capabilities," Cooke told the Space Transportation Association Sept. 11.
The needs of scientists drove some of the work, since scientific interest in the moon will extend beyond the fixed base NASA plans to build at one of the lunar poles. To get there, four-member lunar-surface teams would take two pressurized rovers dubbed "Freds," for Flexible Roving Exploration Devices, which Cooke said was a sort of tribute to the Fred Flintstone cartoon character.
"With two rovers we could actually send them out farther than walk-back distance, which has always been kind of a requirement when you had a rover," Cooke said. "And that limits your range significantly. So we came up with an approach that we think we could live with, where you have two of these and they go long distances."
While "they're fairly small," and normally would carry only two astronauts, in a pinch they could carry all four members of a surface team for self-rescue. The rovers also would be radiation-hardened, and designed to limit crew exposure to galactic cosmic rays. The current concept calls for step-in spacesuits docked to the outside of the rovers, so crews could step directly into them from the pressurized interior and move out on the surface.
Also under study are plug-in appliances for the rovers, such as backhoes or robotic arms, and perhaps having the rovers dock directly to the pressurized habitats of the lunar base. Those habitats would be larger than originally planned, landed early in the base-assembly sequence to minimize assembly time later. Inflatable structures remain a possibility for habitats, Cooke said, although no final decisions have been made.
For longer sorties than would be possible with the pressurized rovers, NASA is considering a robotic chassis that could carry unmanned landers or the larger habitats long distances to scientifically interesting sites for extended crew stays. Crews would arrive at the portable outpost by rover or perhaps even in a direct launch from Earth.
Cooke said the hardware that would be needed for the architecture refinements could be built by NASA's international partners or commercial companies. To that end, the agency will brief its concepts in detail at upcoming conferences in the U.S. and abroad, starting with the AIAA Space 2007 conference in Long Beach, Calif., Sept. 18-20.
All of the new concepts, chosen from among six options NASA studied, "seemed to us a very good way of maximizing the crew's abilities once we get them there," Cooke said. "We spend a lot of money to get them there. We want to make them as effective as we can."

Rxke · 2007-09-13 05:38:21

Wow, exciting stuff!

Tom Kalbfus · 2007-09-14 09:35:10

Is the Moonbase an American project or are there international partners involved?

Seems to me that the bottom stage of the Moon lander would be involved in delivering the parts of the base to the site. Should the parts remain sitting on those bottom stages and move the stages around till they connect with each other, or should the modules be lowered to the surface somehow and placed into position so they dock on the Moon's surface?

Seems to me that putting together a Moonbase might in some ways be harder than assembling the parts of the international space station. If free space you can move parts in three dimensions, on the surface of the Moon, you only have two, and that surface isn't perfectly flat, there is topography involved and some modules are going to be higher than others.

I think placing the modules on wheel and towing them into position might be the way to go. Then the modules will have to be jacked up from their wheeled base and leveled so they can connect with one another. Moving some dirt might be desirable as well.

cIclops · 2007-09-14 10:53:19

Tom,

Right now the Outpost is being defined by the LAT (Lunar Architecture Team) at NASA based on the "Global Exploration Strategy" - a set of objectives compiled partly from inputs of the international space agencies. Another driver is the "open architecture" that allows external development of the base infrastructure. NASA has also said it welcomes parallel developments of its own capabilities. NASA signed an agreement with the UK BNSC earlier this year on cooperation on lunar exploration.

Yes using cargo and crew lander stages as part of the Outpost has been considered. Some of the designs are mentioned earlier in this thread.

There are many differences between the problems of constructing the ISS and the Outpost, but the biggest is the difficulty of getting the components to the lunar surface, and that adds enormously to the cost. Dust, power and emergency crew return are also serious issues. Advantages include a more benign thermal environment, no orbit reboosting, ISRU and of course no attitude control problems.

cIclops · 2007-09-14 22:16:06

What Will We Actually Do On the Moon? - (ppt 1.3 MB) Brent Sherwood, JPL - June 2007

First we will reinstate the capability to land people there, sustain them for a few days, and return them. This time, we will not be fundamentally restricted to Nearside, near-equatorial sites. Small crews will explore their surroundings, collect samples, set up simple surface systems (for power, communications, and scientific and engineering experiments), and learn how their equipment really operates. We will use simple rovers to explore regions surrounding the landing site. We will use remote sensing and surface exploration to seek unique places where useful materials or scientific phenomena are concentrated.
After determining where it makes sense to “put down roots,” we will bring larger habitation and workshop elements, and construct radiation shields around them using assembled structure elements and lunar regolith. We will commission power plants that can operate through the two-week night time. We will explore the strange regions where permanent shadow and near-permanent sunlight are close together, where there may be ice resources, and locations on the Farside where Earth is never directly visible. We will grade and pave the surface locally to make it safer, cleaner, and more predictable for people, mobile equipment and automated machines to operate. Crew members will begin to specialize: experiments, exploration, construction, housekeeping, jury-rigging, and repair.
Among the engineering experiments will be some that test practical ways of operating, constructing, excavating, beneficiating, and ultimately producing useful products from lunar material: oxygen for propellant and life support; masonry, glass, and iron for making things; nitrogen and other light elements for air and nutrients. We will learn how to cultivate, protect, and harvest plants and animals. We will try a wide variety of solutions to these challenges, selecting and scaling up the ones that work well.
We will establish test sites where we can practice techniques being designed to explore near-Earth asteroids and Mars. We will build research facilities that Earthbound scientists use by proxy to perform unique astronomical observations, or uniquely dangerous experiments. If it turns out to be economically sensible, we will establish large-scale production of lunar-derived propellants and construction materials to enable cis-lunar development, and large-scale generation of energy for Earth. We will build destinations on the Moon for business and leisure visitors. Eventually the scale and viability of these activities will cross the threshold that defines settlement, and humanity will become a two-planet species.

More presentations from Rutgers Symposium on Lunar Settlements - June 2007

cIclops · 2007-09-24 03:05:01

Bigger Moon Base, Sporty Rovers for Future Missions

By Tariq Malik
Staff Writer
posted: 20 September 2007
6:12 p.m. ET
The next astronauts to work on the moon will likely live in larger habitats and drive sporty new rovers capable of two-week treks, NASA officials said Thursday.
Rather than assembling a lunar outpost over time from a multitude of small, separately launched modules, NASA is now hoping to land up to three large habitats on fewer flights to build a beachhead on the moon, the space agency said.
Doug Cooke, NASA's deputy associate administrator for exploration systems, said that the space agency's revised lunar plan calls for the launching of larger habitats to the moon on unmanned cargo flights. That way, the first new lunar astronauts could begin to reap science rewards faster than if they had to haul smaller habitat sections and hardware to the moon on each flight, then combine them into a larger base to support long-duration expeditions.
"We want to get scientific return. We want to get information that will help, potentially, space commerce and we want to get international participation early," Cooke told reporters in a teleconference. "All of these objectives we want to address as early in the flights as we possibly can by getting the outpost up and running quickly."
Cooke and other NASA officials detailed the agency's revised lunar plan at the Space 2007 Conference of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in Long Beach, California. NASA aims to return astronauts to the moon by 2020 using its space shuttle successor -- the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I booster -- as well as the Ares V heavy-lift rocket.
"There is some great science to do on the moon," said Laurie Leshin, director of sciences and exploration NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, adding that future astronauts will help better understand the moon's environment and interior.
NASA has eyed the moon's Shackleton Crater near the lunar south pole as a possible moon base site because of its proximity to permanently lit and shadowed regions that could be key for solar power stations and the hunt for water ice. But Cooke said that Shackleton is not the only candidate for a moon base, especially since the revised plan calls for mobile habitat modules that could move between science targets or gather together in a sort of lunar spare parts depot.
Data from NASA's unmanned Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, set to launch next year, and other international probes will help pin down future landing sites, Cooke added.
Lunar hot rod
Once astronauts return to the moon, NASA does not expect them to simply stand around their landing craft collecting nearby rocks.
Astronaut Mike Gernhardt, NASA's lead for extravehicular physiology systems and performance projects, said the agency is now planning to send a pair of pressurized rovers that will allow spaceflyers to explore more of the lunar surface while retaining the relative comfort of a shirt-sleeve environment.
"They're basically habitats on wheels," Gernhardt said, adding that the new vehicles would be about the same size as the unpressurized rovers driven by astronauts during NASA's Apollo moon landings. "If you can picture this thing, it's kind of a combination between a spacesuit and a sports car."
Both rovers would be deployed together, each with a crew of two astronauts. If one rover failed, all four spaceflyers could pile into the remaining vehicle to return to their lunar base, Gernhardt said. Current plans call for a 5,000-pound (2,267-kilogram) pressurized vehicle with seats that fold into beds for longer trips.
The two-person rovers would be equipped to handle three-day, seven-day and two-week excursions on the moon with exterior-mounted spacesuits that could be donned by climbing through a shared hatchway, Gernhardt said. It could take just 10 minutes to step into the spacesuits and onto the lunar surface, he added.
Short jaunts could cover about 25 miles (40 kilometers) with the two-week trips roving across 596 miles (960 kilometers) across the lunar surface, he added.
As to how much the rovers may cost, Gernhardt could only offer an estimate.
"I will only say that it will be more than a Ferrari," he said.

Checkout the concept images of the new pressurized rovers and the step in spacesuits.

SpaceNut · 2007-09-24 06:16:59

While my comment is off topic for the moon it makes me wonder if it can be used anyways for Mars.

This rover image sort of combines many of the items that we had talked about as issues in many threads. As a package that allows for less useage of an air lock and of the dust contanmination risk being greatly decreased it looks like it would be great for mars use.

Both rovers would be deployed together, each with a crew of two astronauts. If one rover failed, all four spaceflyers could pile into the remaining vehicle to return to their lunar base, Gernhardt said. Current plans call for a 5,000-pound (2,267-kilogram) pressurized vehicle with seats that fold into beds for longer trips.
The two-person rovers would be equipped to handle three-day, seven-day and two-week excursions on the moon with exterior-mounted spacesuits.
Short jaunts could cover about 25 miles (40 kilometers) with the two-week trips roving across 596 miles (960 kilometers) across the lunar surface.

Looks like this could be preplaced on current launchers thus lessoning the mass to LEO for a first trip to Mars. oh and the 10 minutes to get into the suit should be a plus for there is no time wasted in getting acclimated to the atmosphere of the suit versus that of a habitat.

Tom Kalbfus · 2007-09-24 06:43:14

I wonder who's going to close the hatch behind them when the astronauts get into their suits? As they are facing away, I doubt they can do it themselves.

cIclops · 2007-09-24 12:05:00

Yes and those step in suits would need a very reliable pressure seal. See how long it takes to suit up an astronaut on ISS and they need someone to help.

cIclops · 2007-09-24 14:36:12

Suit Alignment Guides and Suitport Ingress/Egress

The above image and lots of fascinating details from the Lunar Architecture Update (PDF 8MB) - 20 Sep 2007

cIclops · 2007-09-24 14:53:05

Small Pressurized Rover Design Features

This image and much more from the Lunar Architecture Update (PDF 8MB) - 20 Sep 2007

Tom Kalbfus · 2007-09-24 19:34:35

The cylinder-shapped pressurized rover seems to lack windows, I'm not sure whether the picture is showing the front or the back of the rover. If its the back, I suppose he can't see much through his rear view mirror or he depends upon a video camera to give him a view to the rear, or is field of view is very restricted. If its the front, he needs cameras to see where he's going. If those cameras break down, he's effectively blind!

cIclops · 2007-10-01 01:45:19

Nations Looking For a Piece of the Exploration Pie - 30 Sep 2007

A Japanese spacecraft arriving at the Moon on the 50th anniversary of Sputnik this week marks the beginning of what may be a lucrative sweepstakes in space for generations to come.
But instead of Cold War-style political prestige, the purse for this space race could be long-term market position as the world’s high-tech economy begins to move off-planet.
With China, India and the U.S. planning to follow Japan’s Selene and her two piggyback “daughters” into lunar orbit by the end of 2008, lunar missions are becoming almost a fad. Those nations are already at work on follow-ons, while Germany and the U.K. are plotting their own lunar-development roles.
All are among the 14 nations working out a “collaborative” human exploration model that will use the expected early deluge of lunar-orbital data to guide the construction of permanent multinational outposts where they can showcase their technologies for terrestrial markets.
An early plan to send a DLR orbiter skimming as low as 45 km. over the lunar surface “shows the competitiveness of German space entities,” says Johann-Dietrich Woerner, chairman of the German space agency DLR.
As usual, the International Space Station (ISS) partnership is under a strain, this time, over NASA’s plans to bail out after 2015. But at the 2007 International Astronautical Congress here Sept. 24-28, the skepticism of previous years over U.S. efforts to return to the Moon has given way to enthusiasm.
Canadian robot manufacturers are slotting their wares into NASA’s latest lunar-surface architecture (AW&ST Sept. 17, p. 32), while the European and Russian space agencies are refining their concept for a joint Crew Space Transportation System to supplement NASA’s Constellation family of piloted lunar-access vehicles. Lunar filling station, power plant and strip mine ideas pepper the papers presented here.

cIclops · 2007-10-01 03:28:41

Paul Spudis on Lunar ISRU and colonies - (video 3:18 mins)

Paul Spudis is a senior staff scientist at Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins University.

Lunar greenhouse (5 part video series)

cIclops · 2007-10-30 12:08:15

Nationwide Lunar Science Institute - 30 Oct 2007

WASHINGTION - NASA has announced its intent to establish a new lunar science institute. This effort, with dispersed teams across the nation, will help lead the agency's research activities for future lunar science missions related to NASA's exploration goals.
Named the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI), the effort will be managed from NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, Calif. Ames currently manages a similar distributed NASA Astrobiology Institute.
NLSI's operations are expected to begin March 1, 2008. NLSI will augment other, already established lunar science investigations funded by NASA by encouraging the formation of interdisciplinary research teams that are larger than those currently at work in lunar science.
"I am excited about NLSI," said Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington. "As the National Academy of Sciences has told us, the science to be done at the moon and from the moon are of high value, and NLSI will help us coordinate and expand a number of in-depth research efforts in lunar science and other fields that can benefit from human and robotic missions that are part of NASA's exploration plans."
NLSI research teams will address current topics in basic lunar science, and perhaps astronomical, solar and Earth science investigations that could be performed from the moon. They also will offer a quick response capability for lunar science support to NASA's Exploration initiative.
A national search for a NLSI director is currently underway. Most work done under NLSI's banner will take place at other NASA centers, universities and non-profit research groups around the nations. These groups will be competitively selected after scientific peer review.
Initially, NASA will select four or five teams for grants of $1 to $2 million each for three years, with renewals of up to five years. NASA will solicit team proposals in a 2008 NASA Research Announcement.
By late 2008, about 50 researchers around the U.S. could be working under NLSI's banner. By 2010, that number could double. Funds for this effort are part of the president's proposed 2008 NASA budget for the lunar science project within the planetary research program, now under consideration in Congress.

cIclops · 2007-11-02 10:54:05

Constellation work assignments - 30 Oct 2007

Habitat management and integration (KSC)
Structures and mechanisms (LRC)
Power generation and management, energy storage systems and element environmental testing (GRC)
Crew habitation, environmental control and life support systems, and human mobility systems (JSC)
Passive thermal systems and surface element communications (GRC)
Integrated health management (AMES)
Robotic surface mobility (JPL)
In-situ resource utilization systems (KSC)

cIclops · 2007-11-02 16:27:19

Chariot - lunar truck prototype

In preparation for the US led effort to build a lunar outpost, NASA has completed the first lunar truck prototype, named Chariot. Realizing the importance of crew and payload mobility on the lunar surface, the Exploration Technology Development Program's Human-Robotics Systems Project set out, in Apollo-like style, to build a lunar truck and the team that could shepherd future lunar truck efforts. With only one year to design, manufacture, and assemble Chariot, NASA, teamed with companies from all across America, conquered the challenge.
Key Design Specifications:
Chariot Spec .... Earth Prototype (1g) ... Lunar System (1/6g)

Payload .............. 1000 kg ..................... 3000-6000 kg
Vehicle Mass ....... 2000 kg ..................... 1000 kg
Top Speed .......... 20 KPH ...................... 20 KPH
Slope Climbing .... 15 Deg ...................... 25 deg
Range ................. 25 Km ....................... 100 Km

Animation showing Chariot excavating a site for a nuclear power unit (video 5MB)

SpaceNut · 2007-11-02 20:27:31

Some more on
Lunar 'truck' has 12 wheels, can spin on a dime

Mars Rising continues Nov 4, 7 pm ET
The truck that astronauts will rely on to build the first human lunar outpost was unveiled Monday and this 30 horsepower vehicle is called the Chariot, according to NASA.
A far cry from the rectangular four-wheelers you're accustomed to on Earth, these vehicles are the first prototypes unveiled for use on NASA's future Moon base. The entire project was completed from start to finish in just 11 months by the Exploration Technology Development Program's Human-Robotics System Project.

http://robonaut.jsc.nasa.gov/chariot/index.html

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#51 2007-07-23 01:05:42

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#52 2007-07-23 03:34:33

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#53 2007-08-04 04:32:25

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#54 2007-08-04 08:58:22

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#55 2007-09-11 14:59:15

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#56 2007-09-11 17:01:52

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#57 2007-09-12 00:25:39

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#58 2007-09-12 12:08:23

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#59 2007-09-13 05:38:21

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#60 2007-09-14 09:35:10

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#61 2007-09-14 10:53:19

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#62 2007-09-14 22:16:06

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#63 2007-09-24 03:05:01

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#64 2007-09-24 06:16:59

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#65 2007-09-24 06:43:14

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#66 2007-09-24 12:05:00

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#67 2007-09-24 14:36:12

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#68 2007-09-24 14:53:05

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#69 2007-09-24 19:34:35

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#70 2007-10-01 01:45:19

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#71 2007-10-01 03:28:41

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#72 2007-10-30 12:08:15

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#73 2007-11-02 10:54:05

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#74 2007-11-02 16:27:19

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

#75 2007-11-02 20:27:31

Re: Armstrong Lunar Outpost - status

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