Assorted space-geekery
May. 26th, 2006 04:51 pmYesterday... Constellation review of lunar lander concepts. The panel included two Space Station veterans (Carlos Noriega, who now runs Advanced Projects, and Andy Thomas) and the Apollo-era LEM project manager. Six teams presented several lander concepts and designs each... it was interesting to see how they came to similar findings and solutions, in some cases. Our presentation on mobility was the seventh and last of the day.
Now, we can't afford to fly a lander for four sorties in 2018-19 and then redesign it completely to support a lunar outpost. It *has* to be outpost-compatible from the outset, hence our examination of how best to move them from a landing zone 1-2 km from the lunar base camp. Fine, lots of nods.
But... through the day, I'd seen design after design described... with the "taxi" or ascent vehicle, used to leave the lunar surface, attached to the top or side of the large lander. Even when it was docked to other modules as part of the lunar outpost...
When our turn came, I stood up. "Would you put four people ten meters away from that ascent engine if it were being fired in a test stand at Marshall? When there's a replacement crew in the outpost, we can't safely launch from on top of their heads!"
The room went quiet.
Then Andy Thomas, a current astronaut, spoke up, "No, of course we can't possibly launch the ascent vehicle from the outpost." Others pointed out that upper stages deployed from Shuttle have to drift away a safe distance (1-2 km) before main engine ignition -- in case it misfires or explodes. No one launches directly out of the cargo bay.
So, I expect the next set of requirements for the lunar lander will be modified... (grin).
Otherwise, afterwards, we all went to the Outpost tavern, drank beer with Andy and the various NASA guys there for the meeting, and waved to Bob Crippen as he went to his spot at the bar. And talked about landers and engines and autonomous navigation and spacesuits as ascent launch containers...
Today... saw![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tenacious_snail's cousin-once-removed (Rob Ambrose) to discuss Robonaut lunar mobility requirements. Then off to the airport, and hence to Minneapolis (where I am now, after a lovely time with Nancy ;).
Now, we can't afford to fly a lander for four sorties in 2018-19 and then redesign it completely to support a lunar outpost. It *has* to be outpost-compatible from the outset, hence our examination of how best to move them from a landing zone 1-2 km from the lunar base camp. Fine, lots of nods.
But... through the day, I'd seen design after design described... with the "taxi" or ascent vehicle, used to leave the lunar surface, attached to the top or side of the large lander. Even when it was docked to other modules as part of the lunar outpost...
When our turn came, I stood up. "Would you put four people ten meters away from that ascent engine if it were being fired in a test stand at Marshall? When there's a replacement crew in the outpost, we can't safely launch from on top of their heads!"
The room went quiet.
Then Andy Thomas, a current astronaut, spoke up, "No, of course we can't possibly launch the ascent vehicle from the outpost." Others pointed out that upper stages deployed from Shuttle have to drift away a safe distance (1-2 km) before main engine ignition -- in case it misfires or explodes. No one launches directly out of the cargo bay.
So, I expect the next set of requirements for the lunar lander will be modified... (grin).
Otherwise, afterwards, we all went to the Outpost tavern, drank beer with Andy and the various NASA guys there for the meeting, and waved to Bob Crippen as he went to his spot at the bar. And talked about landers and engines and autonomous navigation and spacesuits as ascent launch containers...
Today... saw
tenacious_snail's cousin-once-removed (Rob Ambrose) to discuss Robonaut lunar mobility requirements. Then off to the airport, and hence to Minneapolis (where I am now, after a lovely time with Nancy ;).
