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Lunar shuttleCurrent plans for the extension of human presence into the solar system include the establishment of a permanently occupied base on the Moon for use as a source of raw materials, a transportation node, a facility for the fabrication and launch of elements of the space exploration infrastructure, and a base for scientific investigation and astronomical observatories. All of the aforementioned uses of a lunar base foresee the requirement for a lunar shuttle to operate from the lunar surface to one or more orbiting space stations located in low lunar orbits (LLO). The Utah State University lunar shuttle design is baslined for implementation after a mature lunar base has been established. The shuttle is designed to operate between the lunar base and a space station located in a 400-km-altitude orbit. This orbit was chosen with reference to Apollo experience, which has indicated that very low orbits, on the order of 100-km, may be unstable over periods of many months. After a thorough investigation of the anticipated needs and production capabilities of a lunar base, several design requirements were placed upon the shuttle. These requirements are (1) maximum use of lunar-derived propellant; (2) modularity and payload versatility; (3) two-way transport of 25-metric-ton cargo; (4) human transport capability; (5) satellite servicing; and (6) 3000-kg mass budget.
Document ID
19940004538
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Voyer, P.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Garcia, M.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Higham, D.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Spackman, D.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Garcia, J.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Chapman, T.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Cook, M.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Jelke, J.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Slingerland, G.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Anderson, K.
(Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Publication Information
Publication: USRA, NASA(USRA University Advanced Design Program Fifth Annual Summer Conference
Subject Category
Space Transportation
Accession Number
94N71293
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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