Lockheed Martin Lunar Lander: Difference between revisions
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The first proposal, '''Mars-Precursor Lunar Lander'''<ref name='Cichan-Bailey 2018'/> is a reusable crewed lunar lander first unveiled in October 2018, and it is being proposed to NASA for funding and fabrication. NASA specified that it would wait until 2024 to decide the date and method for a crewed lunar lander, and have hinted at seeking a crewed lander no heavier than {{cvt|6|MT|lb}}.<ref name='Berger 3 Oct 2018'/> The reusable lander would enable sustainable lunar surface exploration. The second proposal, revealed in April 10th 2019, is a 2-stage lander proposed to meet Vice President Mike Pence’s challenge to return humans to the Moon by 2024.<ref>https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/lockheed-martin-organizations/lockheed-martin-unveils-orion-based-moon-lander-concept/</ref> |
The first proposal, '''Mars-Precursor Lunar Lander'''<ref name='Cichan-Bailey 2018'/> is a reusable crewed lunar lander first unveiled in October 2018, and it is being proposed to NASA for funding and fabrication. NASA specified that it would wait until 2024 to decide the date and method for a crewed lunar lander, and have hinted at seeking a crewed lander no heavier than {{cvt|6|MT|lb}}.<ref name='Berger 3 Oct 2018'/> The reusable lander would enable sustainable lunar surface exploration. The second proposal, revealed in April 10th 2019, is a 2-stage lander proposed to meet Vice President Mike Pence’s challenge to return humans to the Moon by 2024.<ref>https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/lockheed-martin-organizations/lockheed-martin-unveils-orion-based-moon-lander-concept/</ref> |
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Both proposal are based |
Both proposal are based on [[Orion spacecraft]]'s hardware, and is designed to take astronauts from the [[Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway]] — a proposed habitat that NASA plans to build in orbit around the [[Moon]] — to the lunar surface and advance technology needed to explore [[Mars]]. |
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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Revision as of 19:31, 15 April 2019
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
|---|---|
| Designer | Lockheed Martin |
| Country of origin | US |
| Operator | Proposed: Lockheed Martin / NASA |
| Applications | Reusable crewed lunar lander |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar lander |
| Launch mass | 62 metric tons[1] |
| Dry mass | 22 metric tons[1][2] |
| Payload capacity | 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[1] |
| Crew capacity | 4[1][3] |
| Dimensions | Height: 14 m (46 ft)[1][2] |
| Design life | ≈ 10 flights[1][2] |
| Production | |
| Status | Proposed |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Flown with | Proposed: Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway |
The Lockheed Martin Lunar Lander is a series of design concept by Lockheed Martin for a lunar lander.
The first proposal, Mars-Precursor Lunar Lander[1] is a reusable crewed lunar lander first unveiled in October 2018, and it is being proposed to NASA for funding and fabrication. NASA specified that it would wait until 2024 to decide the date and method for a crewed lunar lander, and have hinted at seeking a crewed lander no heavier than 6 t (13,000 lb).[2] The reusable lander would enable sustainable lunar surface exploration. The second proposal, revealed in April 10th 2019, is a 2-stage lander proposed to meet Vice President Mike Pence’s challenge to return humans to the Moon by 2024.[4]
Both proposal are based on Orion spacecraft's hardware, and is designed to take astronauts from the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway — a proposed habitat that NASA plans to build in orbit around the Moon — to the lunar surface and advance technology needed to explore Mars.
Overview
in 2016, Lockheed Martin announced their architecture concepts for a crewed Mars mission and related vehicles that include the Mars Base Camp (a crewed orbiting Mars station), the Orion spacecraft, and the Mars Ascent/Descent Vehicle (MADV).[1] Lockheed Martin hopes that the lunar activities will help develop precursor infrastructure and experience for a Mars expedition.[5][6] The crewed lunar lander, if built, would be used to develop the Mars MADV lander. The lunar lander concept was presented in October 2018, and it envisions a single-stage, fully reusable lander system capable of taking off to return to the orbiting Lunar Gateway.[3]
The initial concept would accommodate a crew of four and approximately 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of cargo payload on the surface for up to two weeks before returning to the Gateway without refueling on the surface.[3] After a surface mission, it would return to the Gateway, where it can be refueled, serviced, and then kept docked to the orbiting Gateway until the next surface mission. Because the Moon lacks an atmosphere, the lander would not have to endure the heat and ablation during atmospheric re-entry, which expands its service time and reduces significantly the labor and costs of refurbishment.[3] Many of its key systems, including the crew pressure vessel, avionics, life support, communications, controls, and navigation systems, were already developed for the new Orion spacecraft.[1][3]
Concept of operations
The Mars-Precursor Lunar Lander crewed lander would be a single-stage reusable vehicle able to transport a crew of 4, up to one ton (1,000 kg (2,200 lb)) of usable cargo, and operate for up to 2 weeks on the lunar surface before returning to the lunar orbiting Gateway for refuelling and service.[1][5] The lander would be able to land anywhere on the Moon, including the lunar poles as well as lower latitude sites on the lunar far side.[1] The vehicle's operational lifetime would be between 4 and 10 flights.[1][2]
Preliminary specifications
The Mars-Precursor Lunar Lander lander would be 14 m (46 ft) tall, making it twice as tall as the Apollo Lunar Module used during the Apollo missions.[2] It would have an elevator to get the crew down from the cabin to the surface.[2]
The lander concept envisions the use of the pressure vessel of the Orion spacecraft, and some of Orion's existing systems such as life support, controls, and some avionics, so Lockheed Martin officials think that construction time would be relatively short.[2] Its proposed four engines are a variant of the RL10 that uses the bi-propellant liquid oxygen / liquid hydrogen, generating an estimated impulse (delta-v) of 5 km/s.[2][1][5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Concept for a Crewed Lunar Lander Operating from the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway. (PDF) Timothy Cichan, Stephen A. Bailey, Adam Burch, Nickolas W. Kirby. 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Bremen, Germany, 1–5 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Lockheed Martin proposes a mega-lunar lander: 62 tons and an elevator Eric Berger, Ars Technica. 3 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Lockheed Martin Reveals New Human Lunar Lander Concept. Lockheed Martin press release on 3 October 2018.
- ^ https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/lockheed-martin-organizations/lockheed-martin-unveils-orion-based-moon-lander-concept/
- ^ a b c Lunar Lander Proposal Unveiled by Lockheed Martin. Technology.org. 4 October 2018.
- ^ Lockheed Martin Reveals Crewed Lunar Lander Concept. Defense Media Network. News release on 6 October 2018.
External links
- Lander animation
- Lander illustrations
- Mars Base Camp homepage at Lockheed Martin