NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
A Conceptual Design Study for an Unmanned, Reusable Cargo Lunar LanderMotivated by the aggressive timeline of NASA’s Artemis Program, the feasibility of evolving a mid-sized, reusable and refuelable cargo lunar lander technology demonstrator into the descent element of the three- stage human lander was assessed with the goal of forming synergies between both acquisition programs. Requirements for such a concept are that it must be deployed on commercial launch vehicles that are expected to enter into service consistent with Artemis’ timeline. In order to assess this concept’s feasibility, a physics-based analysis of alternatives was conducted where mission and vehicle architectures are traded side-by-side. Mission trades considered include the impacts of traveling to near-rectilinear halo orbit quickly versus slowly; vehicle trades include fuel and oxidizer tank configurations, number of engines, and propellant combinations, as well as several technology options, e.g. reduced and zero boil-off strategies. Results and discussions are presented to facilitate the consideration of this concept. lunar lander, systems analysis, multidisciplinary design and analysis, space systems, analysis of alternatives,
Document ID
20190033382
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Robertson, Bradford
(Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA, United States)
Ramos, Eugina Mendez
(Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA, United States)
Diaz, Manuel J.
(Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA, United States)
Mavris, Dimitri
(Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA, United States)
Date Acquired
December 3, 2019
Publication Date
October 21, 2019
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Report/Patent Number
IAC-19-D2.4.10
M19-7673-1
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Astronautical Congress (IAC)
Location: Washington, DC
Country: United States
Start Date: October 21, 2019
End Date: October 25, 2019
Sponsors: International Astronautical Federation (IAF-HQ)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 80MSFC18C0011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available