Lunar Ecosystem and Architectural Prototype (LEAP2)
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Lunar Ecosystem and Architectural Prototype (LEAP2) Lunar Site Development of the Marius Hills Skylight Samuel W. Ximenes, XArc Exploration Architecture Corporation, 112 E. Pecan, 10 th Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA, [email protected], Edward L. Patrick, Space Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238. [email protected]. LEAP2 is a commercial lunar settlement program that addresses space architecture issues in lunar exploration, economic development, mining, and sustainment at a specific lunar site identified as the Marius Hills Skylight. Projects within the LEAP2 program address various technology solutions and missions for achieving multi- generational program goals to develop the site for human settlement. RECONNAISSANCE REMOTE SENSING LEAP2 CURRENT PROJECT ACTIVITY AREAS FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENT OF THE MARIUS HILLS SKYLIGHT Science Robotic Reconnaissance Missions: 2018 - 2020 Human and Robotic Reconnaisance: 2020 - 2025 Remote Sensing: 2009 – 2018 Proposed Test Site for Student Zipline Robotics Projects HABITATION Long Duration Stay Outpost: 2025 - 2050 Settlement Construction Begins: 2050 + Setttlement Phase: Latter Part of the 21 st Century LEAP2 Provides Community Opportunities for Collaborative STEM Education Projects STEM EDUCATION Sense of scale comparable to largest discovered earth cave Skylight pit opening ~48m x 57m wide x 45m deep (LROC images NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University) The LEAP2 approach for “first contact” with the site adheres to the need to probe the inherent science, preserve the fidelity of that science, work within the intent of the planetary protection protocols, and also work toward long-term monitoring prior to the necessary development of the lunar environment. Ancient lava flows at Marius Hills volcanic complex (Oceanus Procellarum region) Skylight located at 14.09 deg N. Lat, 303.23 deg E. Long. Lunar Lander/Rover Zipline Platform Trades to be Performed One of the first challenges for reconnaissance at the Marius Hills Skylight is getting instruments, payloads and eventually astronauts down the pit hole and then back out in an unobtrusive manner which maintains integrity of the initial pristine site for science investigations. LEAP2 is developing a robotic concept for a grappling and anchoring platform to enable offloading of instruments and payloads for access to subsurface features in planetary cave exploration. Subsystem architecture elements are comprised of a transport platform, harpoon system, deployable mast, intelligent zipline, trolleys, and resources subsystems. LEAP2 investigating techniques and advanced materials technology to enclose lunar pit under pressurized dome LEAP2 remote sensing goals are to conduct measurements for understanding the regional geology, topographical and morphological characterization, and distribution of potential mineral resources for mining. Characterization of the pit, slopes, and landforms is crucial for determining field traverses and approach routes to the skylight. Options Trades New Lander New commercial lander development program; dedicated mission specific lander Lander Rover Integrated Lander with mobility traversing capability (for positioning at cliff edge) Lander w/ Rover Platform Lander with mobile robotic platform as payload (platform offloads from lander for traverse to cliff edge) Adapted Lander Reconnaissance platform systems designed to meet payload accommodations of current NASA lander development programs, i.e., Mighty Eagle, Morpheus, or other commercial lander development program Lander Rover Modifications for integrated Lander with mobility traversing capability (for positioning at cliff edge) Lander w/ Rover Platform Modifications for Lander with mobile robotic platform as payload (platform offloads from lander for traverse to cliff edge) NASA MSFC Mighty Eagle Lunar Lander prototype Marius Hills Skylight is a large deep pit formed from a lava tube ceiling collapse. The entrance to a lava tube cave is indicated by a large overhang at the pit’s northeast side. Mineral resources in the surrounding area have been postulated for surface mining. The potential for long term habitation and settlement within the protection of the lava tube form the basis for economic development of the site. Marius Hills Sklight Project Areas Sample Student Team Consulting Projects Platform deployment and zipline cable management Test Site: Design and construct a zipline test site either outdoors full scale or indoors partial scale Robotic trolleys and mast Robotics camp for telescoping mast or tight-rope walking robots and drop lines Terrain modeling Construct scaled Lunar terrain models (model making and 3D printing) Harpoon and Cannon Experiment with line throwing equipment for trajectories and targeting Habitation: Long Range Concepts for Settlement Visualization of settlement concepts, drawing, sketching, 3D CAD modeling, 3D printing Habitation: Inflatable’s Design and construct inflatable structures Workshop on Golden Spike Human Lunar Expeditions, October 3 – 4, 2013, Houston, TX (Abstract #6015) NASA Click image to view video
1. Lunar Ecosystem and Architectural Prototype (LEAP2) Lunar
Site Development of the Marius Hills Skylight Samuel W. Ximenes,
XArc Exploration Architecture Corporation, 112 E. Pecan, 10th
Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA,
[email protected], Edward L. Patrick, Space
Science and Engineering Division, Southwest Research Institute,
6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238. [email protected]
is a commercial lunar settlement program that addresses space
architecture issues in lunar exploration, economic development,
mining, and sustainment at a specific lunar site identified as the
Marius Hills Skylight. Projects within the LEAP2 program address
various technology solutions and missions for achieving
multigenerational program goals to develop the site for human
settlement. Marius Hills Skylight is a large deep pit formed from a
lava tube ceiling collapse. The entrance to a lava tube cave is
indicated by a large overhang at the pits northeast side. Mineral
resources in the surrounding area have been postulated for surface
mining. The potential for long term habitation and settlement
within the protection of the lava tube form the basis for economic
development of the site.Marius Hills SklightClick image to view
videoAncient lava flows at Marius Hills volcanic complex (Oceanus
Procellarum region) Skylight located at 14.09 deg N. Lat, 303.23
deg E. Long.Skylight pit opening ~48m x 57m wide x 45m deep (LROC
images NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)Sense of scale comparable
to largest discovered earth caveRECONNAISSANCEREMOTE SENSINGLEAP2
CURRENT PROJECT ACTIVITY AREAS FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENT OF THE MARIUS
HILLS SKYLIGHT LEAP2 remote sensing goals are to conduct
measurements for understanding the regional geology, topographical
and morphological characterization, and distribution of potential
mineral resources for mining. Characterization of the pit, slopes,
and landforms is crucial for determining field traverses and
approach routes to the skylight.Remote Sensing: 2009 2018Science
Robotic Reconnaissance Missions: 2018 - 2020Human and Robotic
Reconnaisance: 2020 - 2025The LEAP2 approach for first contact with
the site adheres to the need to probe the inherent science,
preserve the fidelity of that science, work within the intent of
the planetary protection protocols, and also work toward long-term
monitoring prior to the necessary development of the lunar
environment.LEAP2 Provides Community Opportunities for
Collaborative STEM Education Projects Project AreasPlatform
deployment and zipline cable management Robotics camp for
telescoping mast or tight-rope walking robots and drop
linesSettlement Construction Begins: 2050 + Robotic trolleys and
mast Construct scaled Lunar terrain models (model making and 3D
printing)Terrain modeling Experiment with line throwing equipment
for trajectories and targetingHarpoon and Cannon Visualization of
settlement concepts, drawing, sketching, 3D CAD modeling, 3D
printingNew commercial lander development program; dedicated
mission specific landerHabitation: InflatablesLander with mobile
robotic platform as payload (platform offloads from lander for
traverse to cliff edge)Adapted Lander NASADesign and construct
inflatable structuresIntegrated Lander with mobility traversing
capability (for positioning at cliff edge)Lander w/ Rover
PlatformSetttlement Phase: Latter Part of the 21st
CenturyHabitation: Long Range Concepts for SettlementTradesLander
RoverNASA MSFC Mighty Eagle Lunar Lander prototypeSample Student
Team Consulting Projects Test Site: Design and construct a zipline
test site either outdoors full scale or indoors partial scaleLunar
Lander/Rover Zipline Platform Trades to be PerformedNew LanderLong
Duration Stay Outpost: 2025 - 2050STEM EDUCATIONOne of the first
challenges for reconnaissance at the Marius Hills Skylight is
getting instruments, payloads and eventually astronauts down the
pit hole and then back out in an unobtrusive manner which maintains
integrity of the initial pristine site for science investigations.
LEAP2 is developing a robotic concept for a grappling and anchoring
platform to enable offloading of instruments and payloads for
access to subsurface features in planetary cave exploration.
Subsystem architecture elements are comprised of a transport
platform, harpoon system, deployable mast, intelligent zipline,
trolleys, and resources subsystems.OptionsHABITATIONReconnaissance
platform systems designed to meet payload accommodations of current
NASA lander development programs, i.e., Mighty Eagle, Morpheus, or
other commercial lander development programLander
RoverModifications for integrated Lander with mobility traversing
capability (for positioning at cliff edge)Lander w/ Rover
PlatformModifications for Lander with mobile robotic platform as
payload (platform offloads from lander for traverse to cliff
edge)Workshop on Golden Spike Human Lunar Expeditions, October 3 4,
2013, Houston, TX (Abstract #6015)LEAP2 investigating techniques
and advanced materials technology to enclose lunar pit under
pressurized dome Proposed Test Site for Student Zipline Robotics
Projects